I, too, am talking specifically about the PR war.
I would define "PR success" as polls in Muslim nations that consistently showed support for the U.S.
It is one of my core beliefs, that we cannot win the War On Terrorism (more accurately, a War On Violent Islamism) alone. So, building a coalition is a necessary precondition to any lasting military victory. And we cannot build coalitions, when the populations of our potential allies, are 90% against us. When we, not Iraq, are seen as the Rogue State, by the people of South Korea and France and everywhere in between, we are on the road to defeat. First in the polls, then diplomatically, then militarily. I have this Sense Of Impending Doom, when I see the fascists (Saddam) and 8th Century theocrats (OBL) winning the BattleForHeartsAndMinds.
Unilateralism is a Dead End, because:
1. We are only 5% of the world's population.
2. we can never get adequate access to the battlefield(s)
3. the other developed economies must work with us, in order for any economic pressure or weapons embargoes to work.
4. The winning strategy in this War, is 90% non-military effort, and only 10% military. Our current efforts show the opposite priorities. We began a hesitant, small, flawed HeartsAndMinds PR campaign in Muslim nations, and abandoned it as soon as Muslim governments (including our "allies") objected. We won't convince anyone, if we aren't even talking to them. Again, it's an access problem, and unilateralism shuts off access. |
