Finding America's Voice: A Strategy for Reinvigorating U.S. Public Diplomacy : Report of an Independent Task Force Sponsored by the Council on Foreign Relations

According to this task force, President Bush has sounded the right rhetorical notes about upgrading U.S. public diplomacy as a top priority to combat terrorism and America's shaky image abroad. While he has taken initial steps toward these ends, he must do more. This report points to recent polls showing America's image problem is global -- not just isolated to the Middle East. Negative attitudes about U.S. policy are also pervasive in front-line states in the war on terrorism and among our closest allies. To make U.S. foreign policy more effective, the task force urges the president to follow through on a pledge made months before the 9/11 attacks to reorganize the U.S. public diplomacy machinery and better articulate America's messages to the world. This report provides practical yet innovative recommendations for retooling public diplomacy in a way that underscores its importance as a vital component of national security. The task force allows that, while sound public diplomacy is not a silver bullet for America's image problem, making it an integral part of