A Letter to Obama

From the MIT Center for International Studies' Advice to President Obama, Peter Krause writes

U.S. media outlets like Al-Hurra should be reconfigured to engage viewers using a C-Span-type model . . . Obama must realize that the U.S. government is often not the most effective actor to lead a dialogue of ideas, particularly concerning debates over Islam. Intelligent engagement is as much about listening, learning, and picking the right battles as it is about resources, and an increase in the latter must not obscure the importance of the former in America’s efforts.

Krause's remarks echo a 2004 NYT op-ed by Steven Cook.   Arguing for a C-Span format, Cook expands on Krause's brief letter:

One of the most effective ways in which the United States can pursue this goal is to transform Washington's Arab satellite news channel, Al Hurra, into a kind of C-Span for the Arab world . . . It could begin, however, with programming that has already proved its attraction to Middle Eastern audiences: the workings of the United States government.  On May 7, after revelations about torture at Abu Ghraib prison, Al Hurra broadcast Donald Rumsfeld's testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee to the Arab world.  The spectacle of the secretary of defense of the United States answering questions from elected legislators about the conduct of American soldiers transfixed many Arabs.  After all, many leaders in the Middle East are unelected and unaccountable, and most Arabs have never seen a senior government official called to account.  If America's Arab satellite news channel broadcast Arabic translations of United States government hearings, as well as other aspects of the American political system, it would go a long way toward promoting democratic principles in the Middle East.

Obama's decision to go on Al Arabiya instead of Al Hurra casts further doubt as to the future of Al Hurra.  Krause's leter is a welcome reminder that now is the time to reconsider the potential of existing American broadcasting infrastructure instead of calling for brand new institutions.  Re-programming Al Hurra is a frugal and innovative way to change the direction of U.S. public diplomacy.

Further Reading:

Madeline Albright and Vin Weber, "The Right Path to Arab Democracy," Washington Post, June, 8 2005.

John Brown, "Fixing Al Hurra: Some Small Steps," AmericanDiplomacy, June 2, 2005.