I notice the lack of adequate sourcing of this "news" story written by Itamar Eichner. Let's be clear, though: if it is true, Rice is completely -- and I mean completely -- incompetent. And, if she is so completely incompetent, then Bush is, too. I am a proud American patriot, but anyone who is honest knows that the only country in the world clearly worse than the US in international PR is ... Israel. The best PR might well be found in the PA, which has managed to bamboozle millions into believing that the "Palestinians" exist as a nationality. The next best PR may come from the French.

Did not USA find a better example. It just shows how stupid is the U.S. if Israel they believe Israel can be an example in Public Relations?

I think, what is being sought is knowledge of the Arab/Muslim/Middle Eastern culture, language, religion, background in history,etc.from a country based on the same Judeo-Christian ethics and values of the US.Israel is infinitely more knowledgable about the Arab/Muslim world than the US. Trust what I am saying. It's just too bad this wasn't done fifty years ago. I do not negate the fact that Israel's PR is ,often, inadequate,but PR and marketing are based on hard knowledge of a market, its language ,its subtllties,and nuances,and those of its culture.The US record is definitely inglorious outside of its immediate domain. Don't forget, even the finest educational experiences in the US have neglected the histories of the Ottoman Empire,Byzantium, the Middle East, and the Far East. Only those who made a concerted effort to study these topics learned these areas of study. One never knows what may evolve once the US plumbs the knowledge Israel has gained as the sole democracy in the Middle East for fifty-eight years.

I don't know how good Israeli propaganda (hasbara) is in the Arab countries but I do know that they all want to destroy us. The PA is much better at propaganda - 'poor us', 'look what they're doing to us' etc. Israeli PR is either non-existent or totally arrogant and does more harm than good. Mike

... cause as far as the USA or Israel are concerned, it's not PR that would be required to get a better image but simply a change of policy (that I'm NOT calling for). What people don't like about Israel or the USA is not how they try to sell their actions and policy but rather the actions and the policies themselves. If the muslim/arab world doesn't like the concept of Israel itself, no PR campaign will make it acceptable. Same thing for the Irak intervention. Don't try to hard to PR arabs, focus on China and the western world.

No one needs to use PRO where the arabs and muslims are concerned. They shoot themselves in the foot every time. The whole world hates them. Look at the damage they did to themselves with the cartoon incident. Anyone who walks around with his face covered and is too scared to show it, will not inspire any feelings but repulsion all over the world.

Israel's PR successes can be equated with Harvey the Rabbit: Non-existent

the next best pr would come from the french? LOL you're the idiot!

I could care less what they think and they feel. Let's just leave them alone, stop sending aid, and help protect Israel.

"it's not PR that would be required to get a better image but simply a change of policy..." Yes, let's all bow to the Palestinian thugs and call for aid to help them like Chirac is doing. Tell you what Jul, kissing the ass of the enemy is not the answer....you should have learned that lesson after two world wars in Europe!

That's what is needed - a phony PR campaign to win over the hearts and minds of Islam. Look what it did for the Israelis. Such an idea!

Even though I am a steadfast supporter of Israel, I have to say that Israel has the worst PR of any country in the world. For example, it's beyond my understanding why the media can go interview a Palestinian who talks perfect English (thank God Faisal Husseini finally died because he was so eloquent in English) and every Israeli that's interviewed (at least every politician) speaks abominable English or if he or she does speak English, they can't talk in media soundbites.This is quite frankly embarassing to every supporter of Israel in the Englsih speaking world and is one reason why Israel is losing the propoganda war.

You are so right. Does this article mean that Rice is actually going to be pro Israel? Unbelievable.

Are you kidding You must be Even Arafat the greatest of Arab propagandists spoke Arabic only when he spoke to the media and used a translater. Most of the Arabs do that except perhaps for Hanan Ashrawi who studied in US. Noone speaks better English than Bibi and many of the others are American born Israelis so they speak fine English . Can anyone top Abba Eban's Z"L English ? And the others at least try to speak English even if it is with an accent. Maybe they would do better if they spoke in Hebrew and used a translater. At least then we would know that they had pride in their own language. I don;t honestly know which is better but don;t for one moment say that the Arabs speak better English.

The stunning achievments by the Isreali establishment to win the hearts and minds of the Arabs/Muslims and accpetance by the rest of the world of Israel's daily terror, occupation and land grab of the Palestinans must serve as s model for the US, why not?

No-name, I am impressed by your formidable intellect. You manged to say nothing at all, and then concluded with a chat-room exclamation ("LOL").