http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/site/index/ en U.S. Department of State 2009-11-20T23:01:01+00:00
First, my devotion to the remarkable efforts of State must be undoubted. Second, I'm not picking on dear Ambassador Holbrooke nor unmindful of the crazy jetlag all these DiploFolk are liable to.

I'm using this tape to make a point which could be made almost 98% of the time in appearances by all our United States representatives whether they speak at home or abroad.

It's time for a memo. It's time for us in the Video Age to actually learn *how* to act on TV. Video Etiquette.

The person or people who are Not Speaking must learn that for the Entire Time of the speech they only seem to have a passive role. The audience can not listen more keenly than the folks behind or next to the speaker appear to be listening. It is a deliberate and acquired and awkward skill at first, but the Listener must gaze earnestly and nod sagely when the Speaker speaks -- the whole time. That is their supporting-role-Job.

It *is* an odd feeling as Listener. You must gaze earnestly at the back or side of the Speaker's head or shoulder with as much attention as if you were listening to them directly in a conversation one-on-one from the front. Only then can the non-professional general audience be convinced of the importance of the Speaker's words.

AND you have to do it even if you have heard the same speech 94 times. *You* dear Listener stand in for the attention of this new audience.

The best at this Listening as if it were text being spoke forth from Stone-Tablets was Nancy Reagan with whom I had almost zero agreement on any other issue. She sure knew how to both Listen tho, and, as important in our Video Age, how to Look like she was listening.

Please send a memo. I saw the excellent Messrs. Emmanuel and Gibbs chatting like schoolboys in multiple cutaways during a sober press conference with President Obama and I thought, "Do these folks never study the video tape to see what we out here are seeing and how daggone distracting their not-listening is?"

Please circulate a Memo. The impact of our diplomacy could be significantly amped up by quick training in this small crucial set of Listening Skills: Do Listen and Do Look like you're Listening. Study the tape.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/clinton_conference_afghanistan/ Sat Apr 04, 2009
Honorable Secretary of State, Hillary Rodham Clinton:

Your speech was well versed and I can only assume it was well received by other influential leaders abroad. I take comfort with your leadership and I fully support your mission; SMART POWER FOR AMERICA!

Be safe on your trip.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/clinton_conference_afghanistan/ Tue Mar 31, 2009
After an expenditure of over 100 billion, not much progress has been made with allied support. What do you plan on changing? How do you overcome all the mistakes we made thus far?

One small example: We took a Miami Afghani Laundromat owner and made him head of Defense there? How was that even conceivable? We made so many mistakes the people have very little trust in us, let alone the leadership there.

I suggest you talk to people like Jack Idema and get some boots to the ground idea of the actual Governmental inconsistencies? Like him or not, he knows the people and won't lie to you about what actually goes on. You need to go outside the circle of authority In House to get an honest view.

If the methods and personal leadership gets its information has not proven correct, why continue using the same sources?

It is all about taking proper direction from proper intel..]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/clinton_conference_afghanistan/ Tue Mar 31, 2009
Thank you Secretary Clinton. The United States of America has helped bring democracy to Iraq and Afghanistan. Both countries are a better place today thanks to our intervention. It's time to end the war and return all our troops home.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/clinton_conference_afghanistan/ Tue Mar 31, 2009
I'm not sure if this issue was addressed at the conference, but if there's anyone to voice opposition and be heard, it would be you, Secretary Clinton:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/mar/31/hamid-karzai-afghanistan-law

Please stand up for women's rights in Afghanistan.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/clinton_conference_afghanistan/ Tue Mar 31, 2009
It used to be said, "what happens in California first, will eventually happen to the rest of us" -- now we can only hope that the measures taken to bring peace and prosperity in Afghanistan, will bring a lasting peace to the rest of the world.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/clinton_conference_afghanistan/ Tue Mar 31, 2009