IV 

110TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. RES. 1410 

Supporting efforts to advance United States international diplomacy and 

engagement in order to restore United States credibility abroad. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

AUGUST 1, 2008 

Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin (for herself, Ms. LEE, Ms. SCHAKOWSKY, Mrs. 

CHRISTENSEN, Mr. KUCINICH, Mr. HASTINGS of Florida, and Mr. CARSON) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs 

RESOLUTION 

Supporting efforts to advance United States international 

diplomacy and engagement in order to restore United 

States credibility abroad. 

Whereas America’s global stature and standing is an asset in 

its efforts to achieve foreign policy goals and respond to 

threats to building a more secure and prosperous world; 

Whereas in the aftermath of the attacks on September 11, 

2001, there was an international showing of sympathy 

and support for the United States, and since then, polls 

conducted by the Government of the United States and 

other entities have showed a troubling and sharp decline 

in public opinion toward the United States around the 

globe; 

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Whereas according to the results of the Pew Global Attitudes 

Survey, conducted between 2002 and 2007, the number 

of people with a favorable view of the United States fell 

in 26 countries out of the 33 surveyed; 

Whereas according to the results of the Pew Global Attitudes 

Survey, a majority of those surveyed said they have a 

very or somewhat favorable opinion of the United States 

in only 8 of 23 countries; 

Whereas according to the results of the Pew Global Attitudes 

Survey, in many countries central to the fight against 

terrorism, the general public deeply distrusts the United 

States, with solid majorities in France, Germany, and 

Spain continuing to express unfavorable opinions; 

Whereas according to the Pew Global Attitudes Survey, in 

Turkey, which is a secular, Muslim, non-Arab democracy 

and a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, only 9 out of 100 people have a favorable view of 

the United States, a 43 percent decline from 2000; 

Whereas the Pew Global Attitudes Survey found that the 

American people, considered separately from United 

States foreign policy, were viewed positively by majorities 

in 14 countries, including at least 70 percent in South 

Korea, Lebanon, Poland, and Great Britain; 

Whereas the Advisory Group on Public Diplomacy for the 

Arab and Muslim World (Advisory Group), a subcommittee of the Congressionally-created Advisory Commission on Public Diplomacy, reported, ‘‘Although the 

objective of foreign policy is to promote our national interests and not, specifically, to inspire affection, hostility 

toward the United States makes achieving our policy 

goals far more difficult’’; 

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Whereas a report by the International Organizations, Human 

Rights, and Oversight Subcommittee of the House of 

Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs stated 

that the decline in United States standing and credibility 

abroad was not caused by a rejection of shared values 

such as democracy, human rights, tolerance, and freedom 

of speech, and that a number of reports have found that 

people worldwide, including Arabs and Muslims, support 

our values but believe that our policies do not live up to 

those standards; 

Whereas reasons put forward for this decline in global public 

opinion include the war in Iraq, instances of torture and 

rendition, and a perception that American decisions and 

actions are made unilaterally and without regard to international laws or standards; 

Whereas the decline in global public opinion has also been attributed to the unfortunate and ill-advised use of words 

and rhetoric by American officials, which has increased 

skepticism of motives and actions; 

Whereas specifically, the use of words to arouse strong fearbased emotions that tarnish entire peoples or religions 

has been cited as a reason behind the decline in perceptions of America abroad, which hinders, not helps, American national policy objectives; 

Whereas the Advisory Group noted that ‘‘a single word from 

the President of the United States (or from a Congressman or even an American entertainer) can harden into 

formidable antagonism the view of an Arab citizen who 

was wavering on a policy question’’; 

Whereas soon after the September 11, 2001 attacks, President George W. Bush recognized the importance of 

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words, and renamed the United States response ‘‘Operation Enduring Crusade’’, when experts pointed out a 

reference to the religious wars could be interpreted as inflammatory; 

Whereas President Bush recently expressed regret about 

using phrases such as ‘‘bring them on’’ or ‘‘dead or 

alive’’, which may have led people around the world, including our allies, to believe that he was ‘‘not a man of 

peace’’; 

Whereas President Bush recognized these terms made the 

world think ‘‘he was a guy anxious for war’’ in Iraq and 

that ‘‘in retrospect, [he] could have used a different tone, 

a different rhetoric’’; 

Whereas in testimony before the 9/11 Commission, then Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage stated that 

Americans have been ‘‘exporting our fears and our 

anger’’, not our vision of opportunity and hope; 

Whereas Harold C. Pachios of the United States Advisory 

Commission on Public Diplomacy testified before Congress that in the information age, the statements of 

American officials travel to ‘‘villagers in Jordan, Indonesia and Pakistan [who] will see and hear it simultaneously with people in Wichita, Portland, and Louisville 

. . . the same words and ideas reach our global audience, 

sometimes with unflattering editing, as quick as it 

reaches domestic audiences’’; 

Whereas the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of 

Civil Rights and Civil Liberties has recommended that 

United States officials use language strategically in their 

outreach to certain communities, noting the need to be 

‘‘conscious of history, culture, and context’’ and warning 

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that ‘‘in an era where a statement can cross continents 

in a manner of seconds, it is essential that officials consider how terms translate, and how they will resonate 

with a variety of audiences’’; 

Whereas the success of American diplomacy and the achievement of foreign policy goals will rely in part on the 

United States repairing its diminished reputation and 

credibility worldwide and consistently reaching out to and 

partnering with countries around the world, in both 

words and deeds, where current views of our Nation are 

very low; 

Whereas the United States cannot have a constructive foreign 

policy in regions like the Middle East, northern Africa, 

or South Asia if its organs of national policy do not engage in thoughtful and constructive dialogue and policy 

making; 

Whereas there are mainstream and moderate groups in the 

Middle East and throughout the world willing to work to 

achieve peace; 

Whereas tough-sounding rhetoric is not an effective substitute for consistent and multilateral diplomacy and 

statecraft, financial or military assistance, or leadership; 

Whereas Secretary of Defense Robert Gates has noted the 

‘‘need for a dramatic increase in spending on the civilian 

instruments of national security—diplomacy, strategic 

communications, foreign assistance, civic action, and economic reconstruction and development’’; 

Whereas while it is appropriate to denounce violence against 

innocent civilians and terrorist acts, diplomacy does not 

consist solely or largely of denouncing, condemning, or 

threatening; 

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Whereas it should be noted that Israel has entered into talks 

with Syria, mediated by Turkey, to discuss the Golan 

Heights; struck a deal with Hezbollah to exchange the remains of soldiers and prisoners, with Germany acting as 

a mediator; and media reports continue to indicate that 

Israel may be working to reach a cease fire with Hamas, 

through mediators, in Gaza; and 

Whereas the 9/11 Commission recommended that ‘‘The 

United States Government must define what the message 

is, what it stands for . . . [and] should offer an example 

of moral leadership in the world, committed to treat people humanely, abide by the rule of law, and be generous 

and caring to our neighbors’’: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) recognizes that support for free speech, es3 pecially as protected by the 1st Amendment to the 

4 Constitution, is a hallmark of our Nation’s political 

5 discourse; 

6 (2) recognizes that achieving important national 

7 security and international priorities will require re8 straint and wisdom on the part of our Nation’s lead9 ers and diplomats, particularly the use of provoca10 tive language which may undermine legitimate diplo11 matic and national security efforts; 

12 (3) expresses concern about the potential ad13 verse effects of growing negative perceptions of the 

14 United States around the globe on efforts to address 

15 global threats facing our Nation; 

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1 (4) reaffirms support for policies and actions 

2 that address and reverse the dangerous degradation 

3 of America’s global standing and influence, which 

4 should stress the use of statements and policies that 

5 emphasize American values and focus on our diplo6 matic goals and objectives, not personalities and 

7 characterizations; 

8 (5) recognizes that diplomacy, engagement, and 

9 gaining international support will be critical to the 

10 success of American efforts, both bilaterally and 

11 multilaterally, to reach agreements on issues such as 

12 securing peace between Israelis and Palestinians, 

13 furthering international efforts to curb Iran’s nu14 clear ambitions, bringing an end to the genocide in 

15 Darfur, and addressing the global food crisis and 

16 HIV/AIDS pandemic; 

17 (6) urges the Department of State and other 

18 Federal agencies to continue to make proactive ef19 forts to recognize and incorporate the importance of 

20 using communications and language wisely and stra21 tegically in diplomatic and other efforts to deal with 

22 the threats facing our country; 

23 (7) recognizes the need for international players 

24 to stop using rhetoric that merely promotes and fos25 ters animosity; and 

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1 (8) calls on all parties, including the Adminis2 tration and the international community, to engage 

3 in constructive activities, statements, and resolutions 

4 that promote an environment conducive to dialogue 

5 and diplomacy. 

Æ 

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