Articles by Helle Dale

 

Leveling the Playing Field in the U.S.-China Media Battle

Helle Dale | September 23, 2011

Most Americans identify China as the country most likely to challenge the United States globally, and many even expect China to replace American dominance. U.S…. Read More

 

U.S. Counterterrorism Strategy: Sticks and Carrots

Helle Dale | September 15, 2011

The counterterrorism strategy published by the Obama Administration in June was not exactly a hard-hitting document, turning counterterrorism into a law enforcement issue and generally… Read More

 

Media Freedom Is Under Attack in Egypt

Helle Dale | September 14, 2011

Since the beginning of the Arab Spring, the direction of the Middle Eastern revolutions this year has been a concern. Attempts by the new governments… Read More

 

On 9/11 Anniversary, Obama Administration Has Conflicting Messages

Helle Dale | September 10, 2011

The Obama Administration has been seeking advice on how to calibrate its messaging on the 10th anniversary of September 11, conscious of how it may… Read More

 

Arab Media (New and Old) Under Attack

Helle Dale | August 25, 2011

As governments in the Middle East struggle to come to grips with the surging demands for freedom of expression among their populations, media across the… Read More

 

Secretary Clinton: U.S. Leadership Needed

Helle Dale | August 16, 2011

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is famous for approaching her various jobs with discipline, and discipline was the message she repeatedly conveyed at the National… Read More

 

Turkey Backs off Tighter Internet Controls

Helle Dale | August 11, 2011

Though the best-known controllers of Internet freedom are China, Cuba, Iran, and North Korea, other countries also attempt to limit Internet access for a variety… Read More

 

Iran Tightens Screws on Internet Users, Again

Helle Dale | August 05, 2011

By the end of August, if Tehran’s plans progress as announced, Iranians going online will find themselves restricted to communicating only with each other—under the… Read More

 

State Department Tweets, but Is Anyone Listening?

Helle Dale | July 06, 2011

The President isn’t the only one engaging Americans on Twitter. On June 28, the notice went out from the State Department’s spokesman that Under Secretary… Read More

 

Revolving Door at State Department’s Public Diplomacy Post

Helle Dale | June 30, 2011

Undersecretary of State for Public Diplomacy Judith McHale recently announced that she is moving on, leaving the job after just two years in office. Of… Read More

 

Obama (Finally) Talks to Voice of America

Helle Dale | June 24, 2011

The White House finally ended its boycott of Voice of America (VOA), the government’s own international broadcasting service, on Wednesday, hours before the President’s speech… Read More

 

Security and Hospitability Can Go Hand in Hand: Expand the Visa Waiver Program

Helle Dale | June 13, 2011

When President Obama went public with his support for expansion of the U.S. Visa Waiver Program (VWP) while in Poland last month, it was a… Read More

 

Russia: New Media, Old Tactics

Helle Dale | June 01, 2011

Did Russian President Dmitry Medvedev blush when he signed off on the G-8 declaration of the “Renewed Commitment for Freedom and Democracy” at last week’s… Read More

Security

Don’t Cut Defense to Fund State

Helle Dale | May 24, 2011

It is no secret that when it comes to the use of power, the Obama Administration vastly prefers “soft” power to the military variety. In… Read More

 

As Obama Speaks, Echoes of the Bush Freedom Agenda

Helle Dale | May 19, 2011

President Obama was true to his advance publicity today as he addressed an audience at the U.S. State Department. The almost hour-long speech had been… Read More

 

BBC Snags Second Obama Interview

Helle Dale | May 19, 2011

President Obama’s major Middle East speech offers an opportunity to provide substance to a policy so far heavy on rhetoric and light on action. It… Read More

 

Chinese Censors Tighten Grip on Internet

Helle Dale | May 06, 2011

Which country has the most Internet users? No, it is not the United States, as cyber connected as we are in this country. The correct… Read More

 

VOA Broadcasting to Iran: A Long-Overdue Housecleaning

Helle Dale | May 05, 2011

At a standing-room-only meeting Wednesday, the leadership of Voice of America (VOA) announced major changes in the way the Persian News Network of VOA goes… Read More

 

Governments Increasingly Entangle World Wide Web

Helle Dale | May 04, 2011

While the Internet is emerging as an increasingly powerful tool for political activism—most recently demonstrated in the Middle East up-risings—so governments around the world are… Read More

Security

A New National Narrative: Three Cheers for Hard Power

Helle Dale | May 02, 2011

A fascinating paradox emerges from the news that U.S. Special Forces on Sunday killed terrorist mastermind Osama bin Laden in a superbly well-planned and executed… Read More

 

“No, Minister!” British MPs Rebel over World Service Cuts

Helle Dale | April 22, 2011

While the Chinese government is investing $7 billion in a new global media push and Chinese television is opening up new offices in Times Square… Read More

 

Save VOA Broadcasting to China

Helle Dale | April 15, 2011

The decision to cut Voice of America (VOA) Broadcasting to China has attracted a good deal of congressional attention, as well it should. While China… Read More

 

Friendly Fire Paralyzes U.S. Internet Strategy

Helle Dale | April 08, 2011

Just weeks after Secretary of State Hillary Clinton complained to Congress that America is losing the information war against Al Qaeda, China and Russia, it… Read More

 

“Why Are You Abandoning Us?” Broadcasting to China Goes Quiet

Helle Dale | March 25, 2011

The end of an era is at hand. Today marks the last day of BBC World Service Broadcasts to China and Russia after 70 years… Read More

 

U.S. Funding for the BBC?

Helle Dale | March 23, 2011

Just what is it with the Obama Administration and state broadcasters? Not content with sticking by NPR after the House of Representatives voted to cut… Read More

 

U.S. Job Performance as Global Leader: A Mixed Report Card

Helle Dale | March 18, 2011

Americans are rightly concerned about the United States’ ability to remain a global leader. In Iowa, Republican presidential aspirants have voiced concerns over President Obama’s… Read More

 

Clinton to Congress: We are Losing the Information War

Helle Dale | March 08, 2011

News flash: “We are in an information war, and we’re losing that war.” This source for this conclusion was not one of the at least… Read More

 

Internet Shutdowns Drive Protestors in Middle East

Helle Dale | February 23, 2011

Shutting down the Internet did precious little good for Egyptian leader Hosni Mubarak. It is not likely to do Libyan leader Muammar Qadhafi much good… Read More

 

Iranian Days of Rage

Helle Dale | February 16, 2011

Has the Obama Administration finally reached agreement on its policy toward the Middle East uprisings? The State Department and the White House have been articulating… Read More

 

Iran, the Mullah’s Worst Fear

Helle Dale | February 14, 2011

From the perspective of the dictatorships of the Middle East, the most obvious conclusion from the demonstrations in Egypt and the resignation Friday of embattled… Read More