September 11, 2001, may have been a wake-up call to reform America's outdated intelligence bureaucracies and fight a global war on terrorism, but in some corners of the government, the war of ideas has been a lesser priority. While overseas opinion polls show mostly negative views of the United States, the communications machinery at the Department of State remains in disarray, interÂagency coordination remains minimal, and AmerÂica's foreign communications effort lacks focus.
The Bush Administration and Congress have made progress in someareas of public diplomacy, but the United States will lag inforeign outreach unless bureaucratic structures are streamlined,better coordinated, and focused on tasks at hand.