Terrorism's Global Toll: Turning the Tide Together

Real Audio of Briefing

       MR. HOLLIDAY:  Thank you very much. And thank you all for being here today. I'd like to talk a little bit about the publications that the International Information Programs Office has created to mark the one-year anniversary of September 11th.

       The first publication, which is called, "One Year Later," is really a look at how the landscape of the United States has been affected by the events of September 11 of last year. There is many views about how much America has changed and how much America has stayed the same, but one thing is certain, and that is that we have seen how segments of our society have come together to deal with this crisis. Individuals have showed resiliency in rebuilding lives, their economic livelihoods and providing for their families.

       This product is one of a series of electronic journals that we create in order to communicate to foreign audiences. In this case, we would expect that our embassies overseas would download this product and provide it to their key constituencies in all the regions in which we're represented.

       I'd like to just note that there are two main aspects to this publication; one that looks at what I would call the tangible.

       And that is, how the United States has coped with the events and survived and, in fact, in many cases have strengthened the fabric of its society. There is a section on international economics and, in fact, how the U.S. economy in particular has rebounded and shown resiliency in this year. Also a chronicle of the changes in American foreign and defense policy, and the important connection between poverty and terrorism, in which we highlight some of the important steps that the administration's taken in the foreign assistance area over the last year.

       There's also another important element to this publication, and that is a look at the intangible impact of 9/11 on one particular town in Long Island. This is an essay by the prominent essayist Roger Rosenblatt, and I'd encourage you to read it. These publications will all be translated into the five principal languages -- Arabic, Chinese, French, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish -- and, of course, on a case-by-case basis, by the hosts themselves.

       The second publication, "Victims and Heroes of Terrorism," broadens the discussion from 9/11 in terms of how the United States has dealt with this heinous act of terrorism but also connecting it to the world through the stories of individuals who either lost their lives or performed heroically, from some of the over 90 countries that lost either citizens or residents of the United States on September 11th.

       This includes the woman that you've seen on the cover, Rose Rizzo, who is an Italian American, extraordinary individual, who was a fire marshal on her floor in the World Trade Center and, at the expense of her own life, helped people escape from the building. She was part of the office that you saw, the New York tax office that lost around 40 people. And the other stories are equally remarkable, whether it's the paramedic from Syria who rushed to the scene and was found -- his remains were found months later, who obviously had set aside any kind of national or personal self-interest to help others.

       The third publication is an even -- is a further expansive look at the impact of terrorism and the costs of terrorism to society. This is truly a remarkable look at the common threads that affect both, obviously, those that have lost individual family members and friends in terrorist attacks but also the legacies that have endured in terms of how those terrorist activities have affected the countries and the societies in which they took place.

       We have over two dozen stories and -- highlight approximately a dozen countries -- two that are particularly poignant. One, a young boy, Andres Perez (sp), who was a cancer victim in the United States, was unable to see his father, who was held and is still held by the FARC group in Colombia. And the young man -- letter arrived at the hospital from the boy's father that hoped for one last reunion between the two of them. What we've tried to show in these are really the personal stories that occasionally become obscured in the fast pace of our news cycle and get down to the texture of these individual lives and the truly devastating impact that terrorism can have. Another account is in a different type of environment. It chronicles the survivors of the Sarin gas attack in Tokyo's subway of 1998 and the -- in which nearly 5,000 people were injured.

       The purpose of these documents is really to engage in a dialogue with our friends in other countries about September 11th, the impact that it had on our society, and also our view that the scourge of terrorism is universal, and the cost, both human, social, economic and political, is felt throughout the world.

       And as we look back over the last year next Wednesday, we would hope that international audiences would pause and use these documents to reflect on the stories of their own countrymen who suffered in this attack, but also on the need for civilized people to come together, remember these acts and work diligently to prevent them taking place in the future.

       And I'd like to close on that note and ask if I could respond to any questions you might have.

       MODERATOR: Yes? In the back.

       Q (Off mike) --

       MODERATOR: If you would please use the microphone, introduce yourself and organization.

       Q Okay. Kirsty Lang from the BBC. In recent weeks we've seen increasing evidence of anti-American feeling growing in the world, and I was wondering how you felt the best way was to combat this. And with what messages do you hope to combat that?

       MR. HOLLIDAY: It is true that we've seen evidence of increasing anti-Americanism. I think that there are two broad reasons for this. One is that of course since the end of the Cold War we have obviously developed more independent views of essentially the world order that existed between World War II and the fall of the Berlin Wall, that had many associated exchange and interactions between -- whether it's NATO, various non-NATO allies, development programs around the world. I think that we have seen that we -- as the media space begins to fill -- and it has over the last decade; there has been explosion throughout the world -- that the United States, in the humble way that the president has talked about, must be there and must engage, whether it's education and cultural programs, like the Fulbright and the International Visitor program, or informational programs, like these publications or speakers that we send around the world.

       Obviously, the global economic issues that have been recently addressed in Johannesburg and will continue to be addressed are also the source of important concern for the United States as we look for ways to lift the standard of living of those who don't enjoy the life that we are able to in the United States.

       Programs -- the best and most effective programs are when people actually gather and meet and exchange views with an American. In many cases, we find that their stereotypes of what they think Americas are like are dispelled. I think listening is a very important facet of public diplomacy. I think there's a lot of focus on what the message is and what the communication is. And I think listening and allowing those voices to be heard and engender an understanding that their opinions are important is also an important part of a two-way dialogue. The -- there are a variety of tools that the United States employs to communicate with foreign audiences, from radio through exchanges and across the board. And I think you'll find some very effective initiatives underway, including the -- for example, Radio Sawa, the new FM radio network in the Middle East.

       Q Hi. Hanan El-Badry, Egyptian Television and (Rusedis (ph) ?) Magazine, Egypt. I have two questions. Let's start with the first one. It seems that all your efforts to the Islamic and Arab world -- it was how to deliver the message to the public there. But it seems there the opposite -- how the message, itself -- how you going to -- what you can effort in this to try to handle that kind of issue for the near future?

       MR. HOLLIDAY: I think, if I understand your question, there's also a question of understanding what the nature of our foreign policy is and the nature of our society is in those countries. And we have found, actually, when you dig below the surface level of differences on particular issues, that whether it's faith -- respect for faith, no matter what that faith is -- family and generosity of spirit are three values that actually Americans find are very important to them and are not necessarily attributed to them in the Middle East. I think that you will see more common and shared interests that can only be evidenced through dialogue and communication.

       And that's why it's such a critical moment for our public diplomacy programs. And we understand that we need to be engaging in this dialogue at the moment.

       Q The second one regarding the (anti-American ?) policy, as I call it, plus the American public diplomacy. My question is from my own experience. I have been trying hard for one year now to get any of the American administration senior officials to talk to more than more than 150 (million ?), such as just my own experience, but no answer always. Except the people here at the Foreign Press Center, nobody else (ever ?) accepts our request, since even today, from FBI, from the State Department, from everywhere around the administration. And it seems the only one they are giving to them recently is Sawa Are you depending only on Sawa to deliver your message?

       MR. HOLLIDAY: No, not at all. In fact, I'd be happy to take your card after the meeting. But there is a growing recognition that foreign journalists play an absolutely critical role. I think you've seen and read that the president is elevating and -- considering elevating global communications to a more significant platform within the White House. Obviously, Secretary Powell meets with foreign journalists on a regular basis, whether it's through roundtables; Dr. Rice has made herself available in pre-briefings before trips; Karen Hughes, before she left, counselor to the president, was also struck by the need and importance of including foreign journalists at events in the United States.

       So I think it's very important. We want to -- Ambassador Boucher, of course, is in charge of the State Department's relations with the press corps, and I will be happy to pass along your comments to him. And I think that they're very notable and important.

       Q Andrei Sitov from TASS, from Russia. First off, condolences on what happened, again. And thanks for the publications. They seem very helpful.

       A few things, a few questions on the public diplomacy effort. First off, can you tell us -- can you quantify a little bit for us what's happening in terms of the effectiveness of these efforts?

       I understand that, first, after the event, after September 11 last year, there was this outpouring of solidarity and almost like a sea change in public attitudes, even in the Near East, as I understand it. Then my friends have been telling me that this is changing. Have you been monitoring that? Can you tell us what exactly has been happening to the public opinion in relation to the United States in the world? How is it changing?

       Second of all, you seemed to be discussing these very issues yesterday and today at the State Department at this secret meeting. (Chuckles.) "Why don't they like us?" Can you tell us anything about that meeting, at least what level people are talking on and maybe who are some of the experts you invited? Are they -- what countries they are from, stuff like that.

       And lastly, building up on something that you mentioned, your response to an earlier question here suggested that you see the problem in other people not hearing what Americans are saying, not communicating, not being aware of the good qualities of the Americans. But what about the other side of the dialogue? What about yourselves listening to those people?

       MR. HOLLIDAY: Sure. First, the first question -- obviously, with the passing of time, the events of September 11th, the further you get away from Washington and New York and Shanksville, Pennsylvania, tend to recede a little bit in the public mind. I think this is particularly true overseas, although we've seen in some countries that have experienced their own tragic events or have been -- or have suffered through similar acts that there is a significant underlying degree of sympathy.

       I think what we've seen is that there's a situation in which, if the question is asked specifically related to the acts, that -- there's still a great deal of support for the American people and a great deal of sympathy.

       Obviously, there are a wide variety of issues, as we move on in both the domestic and foreign policy spheres, that need to be addressed and on which there will be differences. And as those issues get discussed, inevitably they take up a certain amount of discussion space.

       But I really -- I believe that as the events are remembered next week, that you will see a degree of solidarity that will reflect very positively on both the president's appreciation for the commitments that other nations have made in the coalition against terrorism and also of the good wishes of those overseas who have passed along to countless visitors that we've sent overseas -- firemen, policemen, paramedics from New York -- in fact, we had a gentleman recently, a firefighter, go to Italy.

       And he visited a town where -- actually, it was his ancestral home, and they named a street after him. And these types of things happen all across the world on sort of an individual basis.

       Secondly, the -- as far as the meeting that was held -- the meeting was actually part of an ongoing series of research that our Bureau of Intelligence and Research is conducting. I believe that all regions were represented. I don't have any information about who went, who specifically or what the particular subjects were, but I think that it's fairly evident that we are concerned and committed to addressing what is perhaps a gap or a gulf in public perception. And I'm sure you can follow up with Public Affairs afterwards if they have more information.

       On the third issue, which is what are we doing as far as listening -- a very important point. I mean, I think that you've seen Americans recognize that the notion of -- I think it's the Norman Rockwell Museum up in Massachusetts that has various pictures, you know, "Freedom from Want, Freedom Fear," -- "Four Freedoms," and "Freedom from Fear" is of parents tucking in their child into bed, and underneath the arm of the father is a newspaper that talks about a bombing that is taking place -- this is, obviously, during World War II. And the psychology there was that obviously, you're here in the United States; you're safe.

       And since September 11th, the country has gone through an obvious transformation from recognizing the importance of international public opinion -- international, obviously; national-security issues, social issues, environmental issues and the range. So I think that Americans are more curious and more interested in the world. And we in the Bureau of Public Affairs actually -- at the State Department -- have a mission that is to inform and educate the American public about foreign policy.

       And whether it's through world affairs councils throughout the United States in various cities, whether it's through our international visitor program that brings political, economic leaders or journalists to the United Stats to visit, we try to arrange audiences for those individuals.

       It is very important to listen. I think that you increasingly see senior U.S. officials providing opportunities to simply interact and listen to the views of their counterparts overseas, in addition to whatever specific agenda item they might be pursuing in a certain country, or a conference. So we will be building this in, and it's a very important point.

       I believe I have time for one more question. Yes, sir?

       Q Lambros Papantoniou, Elettheros Typos, Greek daily, Athens. Can you tell us what finally the government is going to do on September 11 from the president's level, the secretary of State and the secretary of Defense, to send a message globally for this tragic event on September of 11?

       MR. HOLLIDAY: I'd have to refer you to the White House on that. But my understanding is obviously the secretary of State is, I believe, going to be traveling to New York; the president has a number of events, commemorative events here; Secretary Rumsfeld obviously has with the reconstruction of the Pentagon, which actually is chronicled in -- the electronic journal is going to be having a remembrance ceremony. We at the State Department are going to be -- Deputy Secretary Armitage is going to be having a moment of silence for our staff here at the State Department

       There will be a number of efforts to reach out next week and thank foreign leaders and people by the White House as we look back on the last year. And I'd have to defer to them for the specifics.

       Listen, thank you very much. I appreciate the opportunity to share these with you.