Garbage in, garbage out

Karen Hughes, Bush's public diplomacy maven, left her job at State some time ago, not covered in any particular glory. The Wall Street Journal just published an op-ed by her successor, James K. Glassman, setting out his approach. Don't hold your breath.

Here's his main goal: "The aim must be to ensure that negative sentiments and day-to-day grievances toward the U.S. and its allies do not manifest themselves in violence." Huh? Did Osama Bin Laden launch the 9/11 attacks because of day-to-day grievances? This is what happens when you can't bear to use words like jihadist - you deny yourself the ability to say what's wrong.

But wait, it gets better. Here's Glassman's formula for describing the threat posed by Iran: "What we seek is a world in which the use of violence to achieve political, religious or social objectives is no longer considered acceptable..." So we shouldn't have invaded Iraq? Is that what he's trying to say?

Glassman previously was chair of the U.S. Broadcasting Board of Governors, so he's not a novice at this stuff. The only consolation is that most political appointees depart their posts during a change of administration. Which will happen within the year.