Assuming the administration wants those outside the country to understand what's happening...well, hey. That fits right in with the third leg of the VOA Charter: "VOA will present the policies of the United States clearly and effectively..."
Oops. "...and will also present responsible discussions and opinion on these policies."
Maybe not. At any rate, during the early days of Trump 1.0, I argued that explaining our then-new President and his policies should be a selling point for our content - because it was a shiny new thing that engendered curiosity.
After "s---hole countries" and hearing from friends who needed to explain that to their diplomatic counterparts, an early retirement started looking better.
Entertained? Perhaps, at first, but no, not any longer. Yes, the 'forest' is being burned and the thinking is that well, if there's support for something we're burning then only those necessary parts will be built back (I'm echoing your thoughts). Alas, for Public Diplomacy and any tools supporting that, the support was already slim and, it's safe to say that even that support on Capitol Hill would be taking a back seat to bigger issues that constituents are calling about. The current administration has nominated a clown for the Undersecretary position in an obvious attempt to undermine the very concept. A pox on them all.
Two people I trust and with experience in DoD information programs has suggested this will create a larger demand on DoD resources. I pointed out to both that the core of DoD information programs wears an Army uniform and that service hasn't fared well the past few years with significant cuts made to those very information capabilities expected to take up the slack in PD. This won't get better as the Army has already been discussed among the 'commentariat' as a bill-payer for Navy shipbuilding and the new Star Wars II effort.
OK, this is turning into a real downer comment. I'll stop there and leave you with this: The nordic skiing conditions in the NE haven't been this good in years!
Assuming the administration wants those outside the country to understand what's happening...well, hey. That fits right in with the third leg of the VOA Charter: "VOA will present the policies of the United States clearly and effectively..."
Oops. "...and will also present responsible discussions and opinion on these policies."
Maybe not. At any rate, during the early days of Trump 1.0, I argued that explaining our then-new President and his policies should be a selling point for our content - because it was a shiny new thing that engendered curiosity.
After "s---hole countries" and hearing from friends who needed to explain that to their diplomatic counterparts, an early retirement started looking better.
Entertained? Perhaps, at first, but no, not any longer. Yes, the 'forest' is being burned and the thinking is that well, if there's support for something we're burning then only those necessary parts will be built back (I'm echoing your thoughts). Alas, for Public Diplomacy and any tools supporting that, the support was already slim and, it's safe to say that even that support on Capitol Hill would be taking a back seat to bigger issues that constituents are calling about. The current administration has nominated a clown for the Undersecretary position in an obvious attempt to undermine the very concept. A pox on them all.
Two people I trust and with experience in DoD information programs has suggested this will create a larger demand on DoD resources. I pointed out to both that the core of DoD information programs wears an Army uniform and that service hasn't fared well the past few years with significant cuts made to those very information capabilities expected to take up the slack in PD. This won't get better as the Army has already been discussed among the 'commentariat' as a bill-payer for Navy shipbuilding and the new Star Wars II effort.
OK, this is turning into a real downer comment. I'll stop there and leave you with this: The nordic skiing conditions in the NE haven't been this good in years!