Op-Ed
The War Over Public Relations
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Conservatives are losing the war, and losing badly. Now, before you get excited and invite me to join a bike ride, die-in, love-in or some other activity taking place on this campus that will single-handedly change the administration’s policy on foreign affairs, let me clarify. The War on Terror is proceeding well; the War in Iraq is making progress. Unfortunately, our country is losing a war that may be just as crucial to our security and well being — what I like to call the War of Public Relations.
First, let us begin with Iraq. As opposed to three years ago, Iraqis are not being oppressed with the threat of chemical warfare from their government. Women are — gasp — letting their voices be heard in elections. Are there pockets of heavy fighting in the country? Of course. Should we continue to have a strong presence in the country until the Iraqi government asks us to leave? Absolutely. However, they haven’t asked us, and until then, we will work with them to improve their country.
Nevertheless, supporters of the offensive have been losing the War of Public Relations since before the first American troop set foot on Iraqi soil. From the beginning, the message of this administration was unclear and headlined with the need to find weapons of mass destruction. To be clear, intelligence gathering with humans on the ground in the Middle East is extremely difficult, and I do believe that Bush should have made the decision to pursue Saddam’s regime with the information presented to him.
However, countries such as France and Russia were allowed to look like martyrs on a crusade for peace, spouting their moral superiority and enlightened positions as opposed to our petty realistic world view. Kofi Annan, in between getting new cars for his son with United Nations peacekeeping money, bragged that the United Nations “had done everything that we could have done to avoid the war in Iraq.”
What they forgot to mention while continuingly allowing themselves to be patted on the back, and what the Administration did a poor job of illuminating, was the fact that these parties were embroiled in the Oil for Food program. These countries were mired in a $10 billion dollar scandal involving the very dictator you wish to topple, yet no major Administration official thought to shed light on why these countries should be discredited. As a result, France can now brag about being right about Iraq, while high-ranking corrupt officials in their government remain in power.
Three years later, the United States is still committed to bringing about a better Iraq. After John Murtha so dramatically called for an immediate withdrawal from the country, the House of Representatives rejected a bill proposing just such a thing 403-3. Yet I have yet to see a commercial from any conservative organization touting this vote. All those running for re-election on a withdrawal platform should be called out on their records on the Hill.
The problems of this War extend beyond the realm of politicians and diplomats. The pillar of liberal thought himself, Sean Penn, just this week stated on Larry King Live, “It’s time to rebuild our military because they’ve inflamed terrorism around the world.” Now, granted, everyone with a functioning brain realizes that Mr. Penn is certifiably crazy, but he is getting airtime on a show that is being broadcast around the world. He was advertised as promoting a movie, not spouting about political issues. Yet there are no counter measures to radicals wrapped in chic clothing, and soon crazy statement like these will shift the discussion into irresponsible territory.
The War of Public Relations is being waged on another front as well. The War on Terror is being hindered not by political debate but by massive disclosure of strategies and positioning. Anyone with a television can now know the specifics of the warrantless wiretapping program. Anyone with a computer can access countless records and memos through the Freedom of Information Act. We as a nation take our open society for granted, and, in terms of fighting terrorism, there must be limits placed on what is made public. We are not fighting against another nation. We’re fighting teenagers who will gladly move to another country, wait the better part of a decade, and blow themselves up because they would rather die than see us live.
Which brings me to why the War of Public Relations is so important. To put it bluntly, we will not be successful if we continue to bungle our projected image to the world. Even if you didn’t agree with going into Iraq, we’re there, so why not praise the fact that Iraq is holding free elections? Dissent can be patriotic, but praising the positive actions of one’s government can be too. Claiming that our troops are inflaming terrorism is not patriotic. Making public information that puts countless American lives in danger is not patriotic. And sympathizing with the enemies of our nations in order to stick it to the proverbial man is most certainly not patriotic.
When I was a little girl, I remember watching a television program in which the commentator outlined troop movement in Haiti. Nerdy little girl that I was, I asked my mother why people would be dumb enough to essentially give away their game plan. My mother responded by saying that the people on television knew what they were doing. Unfortunately, I now know that they don’t, and the consequences could be devastating. It would be nice if we recognized that fact and stopped fighting ourselves.
Megan Sweeney is a senior in the College of Arts and Sciences. She can be reached at mps65@cornell.edu. The 700 Level appears alternate Mondays.