INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
Losing Hearts And Minds

Karen Hughes, one of the administration's longest-serving employees and part of President Bush's "inner-circle" from his days in Texas, resigned yesterday as Under Secretary of Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs for the State Department. Hughes was tapped by Bush in 2005 to "improve America's image" and "[f]oster a sense of common interests and common values between Americans and people of different countries." Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice praised Hughes's work, saying, "If I could put on one sheet all of the things that Karen has achieved, I would do so, but it would take me a quite long time to talk about her achievements." White House Press Secretary Dana Perino added that "[Karen Hughes] has done amazing work." In reality, Hughes leaves a State Department that is struggling to mend its reputation following the Blackwater USA scandal and that is, by the administration's own standards, failing at one of its most important tasks: winning the "hearts and minds" of people around the globe. In March 2006, then-Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld stated, "If I were grading, I would say we probably deserve a D or a D-plus as a country as to how well we're doing in the battle of ideas that's taking place in the world today."

DECLINING AMERICAN IMAGE: During Hughes's tenure at the State Department, one of her primary objectives was to "improve America's image abroad." Yet America's image has been in an almost continual decline globally since Hughes took the position. A PIPA poll shows that since 2005, when Hughes took the position with the State Department, the percentage of people globally who believe that the United States represents a positive influence on the world dropped from 40 to 29 percent, while the percentage of people who feel the United States has a negative influence rose from 46 to 52 percent. In the Middle East, opinion of the United States has dropped dramatically during the Bush presidency. The United Arab Emirates, Egypt, and Turkey, who have all historically been supportive of the United States, give approval ratings of 25, 11, and seven percent, respectively. The majority of Iraqis favor immediate withdrawal of U.S. troops.

STATE DEPARTMENT MISTAKES: Hughes's position was primarily a public relations job, and the State Department has not made her task any easier lately. Following the deadly September shootout in Baghdad involving Blackwater, The New York Times reported that Iraqi citizens made virtually no distinction between U.S. troops and Blackwater guards, so that any black mark on Blackwater's record would directly affect Iraqi perceptions of the United States. Even with this knowledge, the State Department "promised" legal immunity to Blackwater guards, despite Iraqi calls for prosecution and justice. "Three senior law enforcement officials said all the Blackwater bodyguards involved -- both in the vehicle convoy and in at least two helicopters above -- were given the legal protections as investigators from the [State Department] sought to find out what happened." These revelations occured as the Iraqi government demanded "the right to launch its own prosecution of the Blackwater bodyguards." The Iraqi people have made clear their opinion on foreign mercenaries operating without oversight in their country, but the administration seems intent on ignoring their opinions to protect Blackwater, further harming the perception of the United States' in Iraq.

LOSING THEIR OWN PEOPLE: Even within the State Department, the administration is failing to win "hearts and minds." "Facing staff shortages in Iraq, the State Department announced Friday that diplomats would have no choice but to accept one-year postings in the hostile environment or face losing their jobs." Foreign Service members yesterday voiced opposition to subjecting themselves to the life-threatening disaster that U.S. troops face every day. In a "contentious" hour-long "town hall meeting," several hundred U.S. diplomats "vented anger and frustration Wednesday about the State Department's decision...with some likening it to a 'potential death sentence.'" Jack Crotty, a senior foreign service officer explained, "It's one thing if someone believes in what's going on over there and volunteers, but it's another thing to send someone over there on a forced assignment. I'm sorry, but basically that's a potential death sentence and you know it."

Under the Radar

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS -- U.S. OFFICIAL CRITICIZED FOR MISLEADING NUCLEAR WEAPONS CLAIM: At an Oct. 9 U.N. conference, Christina Rocca, the U.S. representative to the U.N. Conferences on Disarmament, raised the eyebrows of arms-control experts when she claimed "that U.S. nuclear forces are not and have never been on 'hair-trigger alert.'" "It's plain wrong," said Hans Kristensen, director of nuclear information at the Federation of American Scientists. "There are forces on alert, and whether they are on 'hair-trigger alert' or 'launch on warning,' they are capable of launching in minutes." Rocca's comments were made in the context of efforts by the Bush administration to "assure the United Nations" that it is meeting its obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, which requires the world's original nuclear powers "to engage in 'good-faith' negotiations aimed at dismantling their nuclear weapons programs. In exchange, other states pledge to limit their development of nuclear energy to peaceful purposes." The U.N General Assembly will also vote soon "on a resolution calling on the world's nuclear powers to take their nuclear weapons off 'high alert.'" Rocca's comments are not surprising, according to World Security Institute President Bruce Blair. "There has been long history of denying U.S. forces are on 'hair-trigger alert,'" Blair told the Washington Post. "Some of that is based on lack of knowledge, and some of it is an evasion, and some of it is just an outright lie."

IRAQ -- PETRAEUS PERSONALLY INTRODUCES DISGRACED CHALABI TO U.S. TROOPS: On Sunday, McClatchy reported that disgraced Iraqi politician Ahmed Chalabi had "re-emerged as a central figure" in the U.S. strategy for Iraq. His latest job: to press Iraq's government to "deliver better electricity, health, education and local security services to Baghdad," as "the next phase" of the escalation. Yesterday, Blackanthem.com reported that Gen. Petraeus has been trumpeting his new alliance with Chalabi, introducing him to U.S. troops serving in Iraq. For Petraeus to proudly introduce troops to Chalabi is particularly unfitting, considering that Chalabi has repeatedly endangered U.S. soldiers in Iraq. Before the war, Chalabi provided faulty intelligence on Iraq's supposed weapons programs. He was investigated for allegations that he passed intelligence to Iran, "wrongdoing that could have endangered American troops and American lives," according to Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL). Chalabi has alliances with militia leader Moqtada al Sadr, who has led a "series of uprisings against the U.S. military." In February, Chalabi became a lead figure in building Iraqi support for the Bush administration's escalation plan.

HEALTH CARE -- NUMBER OF UNINSURED AMERICANS SWELLS BY 8.6 MILLION: A new Economic Policy Institute report finds that "the number of Americans lacking health insurance rose by nearly 8.6 million to 47 million from 2000 to 2006," largely due to the decline of employer-provided health insurance. "In 2006, 2.3 million fewer Americans received health benefits from their employers than in 2000, the report said, noting the decline does not take the population increase into account." The findings accompany a Harvard study released this week revealing that of the 47 million uninsured Americans, one in eight is a veteran or member of a veteran's household. Uninsured veterans totaled 1.8 million in 2004, up 290,000 from 2000. "Like other uninsured Americans, most uninsured vets are working people -- too poor to afford private coverage but not poor enough to quality for Medicaid or means-tested VA care," said Harvard professor Dr. Steffie Woolhandler. The study notes that "many uninsured veterans are barred from VA care because of a 2003 Bush Administration order that halted enrollment of most middle income veterans."

Think Fast

A USA Today/Gallup poll finds "a nation of discontent." Seventy-two percent say they are dissatisfied with how things are going in the USA while just 26 percent are satisfied. "Not since April have even one-third of Americans been happy with the country's course, the longest national funk in 15 years."

As Defense Secretary, Donald Rumsfeld wrote 20 to 60 "snowflakes" -- his trademark missives for developing policy -- each day. In a sampling of them obtained by the Washington Post, Rumsfeld "argued that Muslims avoid 'physical labor' and wrote of the need to 'keep elevating the threat,' 'link Iraq to Iran' and develop 'bumper sticker statements' to rally public support."

The Senate Judiciary Committee will hold its vote on Attorney General nominee Michael Mukasey on Tuesday, Nov. 6. CQ writes, "Once again, a controversial nomination in the Judiciary Committee may hinge on" Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), who was "noncommittal" Wednesday.

Senate Judiciary Committee leaders said yesterday that they had "serious concerns" about immunity for telecoms who participated in the administration's warrantless wiretapping program. Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT) called immunity "an after the fact free pass" while Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA) said those suing the telecoms "ought to have their day in court."

Earlier this week, John Ashcroft wrote to Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and urged him to grant immunity for telecom companies that cooperate with the government's spying program. It is "a necessary policy for promoting the national security interests of the United States," he wrote. But as OpenLeft points out, AT&T employs the Ashcroft Group as lobbyists.

67 percent: Americans who "support giving contraceptives to students, according to an Associated Press-Ipsos poll. About as many - 62 percent - said they believe providing birth control reduces the number of teenage pregnancies."

And finally: Yesterday, the Senate was full of "bipartisan Halloween spirit." Right before "a hearing on nuclear-waste storage," Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) "donned a white angel halo in the anteroom just off the committee floor. After good-natured prodding from Madam Chairwoman, Inhofe happily donned the red devil horns Boxer gave him, relishing his role as Beelzebub to enviros enraged by his pro-business views on global warming." A top aide wore "bunny ears."

Good News

The Law of the Sea treaty received "an emphatic vote of approval Wednesday by the Foreign Relations Committee," paving the way "for its first-ever Senate vote."

State Watch

CALIFORNIA: The House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming examines the role of global warming and wildfire intensity.

IMMIGRATION: "Hundreds of young American children suffered hardship and psychological trauma after immigration raids in the last year in which their parents were detained or deported."

ENVIRONMENT: Demand answers from the EPA's top administrator on its delay in allowing states to set greenhouse gas regulations.

Blog Watch

THINK PROGRESS: White House Counselor Ed Gillespie: "we don't know" whether the Bush administration practices waterboarding.

HORSE'S MOUTH: Former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani vows to continue repeating misleading, disingenuous statistics on health care.

DAILY KOS: Rep. Steven LaTourette (R-OH) pressured the Cleveland Plain Dealer to fire a progressive blogger.

THE SEMINAL: With Karen Hughes's resignation, all but one of President Bush's inner circle from Texas has left his administration.

Daily Grill

"[T]his technique, we don't know that it's used by the government."
-- White House Counselor Ed Gillespie, 10/31/07, on the practice of waterboarding

VERSUS

CIA officials stated that Ibn al Shaykh al Libbi "finally broke after being water boarded and then left to stand naked in his cold cell overnight where he was doused with cold water at regular intervals."
-- ABC News, 11/18/05