"Post September 11 Diplomacy: A Missed Opportunity to Move Beyond the 'Ugly American' Syndrome"

Gillian Clissold, Associate Director, Caribbean Programs

The talk will highlight how immediately after September 11 even Washington's most intense foes, including Cuba and Libya, perceived the United States as a victim rather than the aggressor. For the first time since World War II Washington had the entire world's sympathy and compassion. The defensive nationalism built up over years of perceived neo-colonial treatment of the Third World was overwhelmed with empathy for the American people's loss. For a few weeks there was a window of opportunity for the U.S. to reach out to foes and examine dispassionately what the U.S. role should be in the new post cold war, globalized environment--what the U.S. (and others) needed to do to make sure that such hatred is neither generated nor acted upon in the future. This was an ideal moment for the U.S. to publicly examine "What makes us so hated", and pledge to work with he rest of the world to ensure U.S. policies are not gratuitously hurtful or insulting to others. If such a diplomatic campaign had been launched, the request that all countries in the world help the US bring the perpetrators of September 11 to justice would have received a far better reception. Perhaps even more importantly, it could have launched a new agenda for international negotiations on free trade, border issues, nationalism etc, with an inclusive rather than unipolar power dynamic.

Bush's initial rhetoric and subsequent actions slammed the window shut within days, and the "Ugly American" image is now even more entrenched in the minds of Third World (and indeed many developed world) citizens. The U.S. is no longer perceived as victim deserving of protection and sympathy, but as selfish bully intent on defending its own interests at whatever cost to others.

The talk will mention the Council on Foreign Relations "spin" report, which outlines a pure Public Relations approach to the problem, rather than addressing the real reasons the United States is so disliked.