Chicago Tribune Karen Hughes kicks off new job with tour of Egypt
Karen Hughes, the new public diplomacy czar charged with improving the U.S. image, began her maiden diplomatic voyage Sunday, meeting in picturesque settings with Egyptian students who have benefited from American largess. Hughes said she would steer clear of meeting with representatives of Egypt's largest opposition group, and a lunch scheduled for Monday with “opinion leaders” includes mostly people supportive of the government that has ruled the country under emergency decree for a quarter-century.Outside her carefully vetted settings, interviews with ordinary Egyptians indicated deep anger at the policies of the Bush administration.
While undersecretaries generally travel with a handful of aides, Hughes is bringing along a planeful of reporters, including representatives of all five U.S. networks, a correspondent from Al-Arabiya television and a writer from GQ magazine.
Farouq Hickel, a mini-van driver who was walking past the Bab Zuweila, a 900-year-old Islamic monument restored with U.S. funds that Hughes toured. “We have no problems with Americans. But look at what Bush is doing--he is messing up the world.” He said Hurricane Katrina was clearly God's revenge for President Bush's actions.
I'm curious as to what the target audience for this propaganda tour is supposed to be? If it is the countries she is visiting, why are the audiences vetted so that only supporters are allowed in? If it is domestic, I don't forsee much attention being paid to Karen Hughes' “Most Excellent Adventure”
Tags: media, /propaganda
