AMPLIFYING THE PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE ON

UNCLAS STATE 122234 FROM UNDER SECRETARY JUDITH MCHALE TO CHIEFS OF MISSION, PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICERS, AND REGIONAL MEDIA HUB DIRECTORS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL KPAO SUBJECT: AMPLIFYING THE PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE ON AFGHANISTAN ¶1. This is an action request. Please see paragraphs 2 and 4. ¶2. President Obama will announce a comprehensive strategy on Afghanistan in an address at West Point, NY at 8 pm EST on December 1. I ask your cooperation in actively engaging with the media and publics at your posts to amplify the President's message. ¶3. The White House's communications strategy for this speech includes vigorous public diplomacy engagement by overseas Mission leadership once the speech is delivered. This announcement will have great importance for our global foreign policy objectives. We will rely on your judgment as to the content and level of public diplomacy activity appropriate in your host country communications and policy environment. ¶4. The White House requests two rounds of reporting from every Mission Public Affairs Section worldwide. Country PAOs should consolidate reports from constituent posts in a unified submission: - (1) By 12 noon EST Wednesday, December 2: A one- paragraph report of immediate media reaction (coverage/commentary) in your host country. Please include the ratio of positive vs. negative reactions, general tone, key themes, and if any medium has changed its editorial position on the issue. - (2) By 5 PM EST Monday, December 7: A one-paragraph report on continuing reporting, commentary, statistics, atmospherics, and changes in tone and position (including weekend news talk programs, if appropriate). Also, a second paragraph enumerating all post amplification and engagement efforts on themes of the speech. All posts are asked to report, even if to say that you took no action. If no action was taken, please indicate why. Reports should be sent via email to your Regional PD Office, with copies to your Regional Media Hub Director, the Rapid Response Unit (rru@state.gov),and INR's Office of Research and Media Reaction (rmrmail@state.gov). ¶5. Washington elements will provide a variety of PD tools to help your engagement efforts: Pre-speech: - NSC-provided talking points and fact sheet. As soon as possible, we will provide translations in Arabic, French, Spanish, Russian, Chinese, Persian, Dari, Pashto, Urdu, German, Hindi, Bangla, Korean, Japanese, Czech, Croatian, Albanian, Finnish, Italian, Portuguese, Slovenian, Estonian, Lithuanian, Polish, Romanian, Latvian, Georgian, Armenian and Turkish. (Estimated availability: several hours before speech.) - Background article Tuesday on U.S. policy and presence in Afghanistan in English, Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Persian, Russian, and Spanish on America.gov. - INFOCENTRAL updates on latest talking points and other background as provided by the NSC. Immediately after speech: - Official as-delivered speech text in English will be sent to COMs and PAOs and be posted to INFOCENTRAL. - Official translations of speech in languages will be provided to relevant posts as soon as available. See list of languages above. Wednesday and beyond: - Additional statements and Congressional testimony on INFOCENTRAL. - Additional content on Afghanistan in English, Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Persian, Russian, and Spanish on America.gov. ¶6. Please contact Acting R/PPR Director Mark Davidson (DavidsonMJ@state.gov) with any questions. ¶7. Thank you for your assistance at this crucial juncture in our war in Afghanistan. ¶8. Minimize considered. CLINTON