I agree completely. On some of my other posts, for which I have gotten crucified, I have said that the US has the world's worst PR. The US apparently does not care about this. This would be so easy to change but we don't. For example, what would happen if the first relief flight into Thailand had Michael Jordan on board? Yes, it would have created a temporary media circus, but would have done wonders getting the word out that we are there and helping. It wouldn't have to be Jordan. Any big name hollywood star would do. Even Arnold. The boost in PR we would get would easily dwarf the trouble it would take to do it.
You came to FR prepared to bad mouth the U.S. and nothing's changed.
You are not in charge of relief efforts or U.S. PR, nor are you likely ever to be. Just run along.
Some people, when they discharge an obligation, the report can be heard for miles around." --- Mark Twain.
You and your "best friend" can cool it now. If you are hungry for recognition and still need to continue badmouthing the U.S. do it to French forums. They will be welcome there.
Parading Michael Jordan around would like like a cheap publicity trick.
My background is in the Advertising/PR industry. And I agree with you in every respect...save one.
As a nation, we're rotten at PR. The Clinton administration was the best practicioner, by far -- though he was more interested in promoting his person than the country. And the Bush administration is, if anything, even worse than the norm.
Michael Jordan (or whoever) accompanying the first shipment of aid would've drawn a media circus and the requisite attention, no doubt.
But to have attempted to put a PR veneer on our efforts would have been unnecessarily costly -- in time and coordination. PR events take time to plan, set up, manipulate and exploit.
And, in my view, even as an ad/PR guy, that's counter-productive to what the mission should be. With all due respect, it's a time for action, not promotion.