Soft Power is needed to aid in the prevention of terrorism states Secretary of Homeland Security Chertoff, according to a recent article by the Wall Street Journal. In the fight against terrorism the need for soft power is often overlooked, as it will take more than military power to win this war. According to the article, Mr Chertoff came to his conclusion “when he finally had time to think about big-picture challenges. Now, he said, ‘a lasting victory in the safeguarding of the country’ can be achieved only by marrying traditional security with winning ‘a contest of ideas, and a battle for the allegiance of men and women around the world.’” The importance of putting into place a strategic public diplomacy effort should not be underplayed, especially in a battle that involves as much ideology as military might.

The Heritage Foundation’s experts on Public Diplomacy recently published a important research on what public diplomacy should look like today. The Backgrounder, “Reforming U.S. Public Diplomacy for the 21st Century” addresses the problems with the current system, highlighting that those government institutions tasked to influence the foreign public lack sufficient leadership and resources. To resolve the problems this generates, the experts call for Congress and the President to “create a new, viable institutional framework and strategy that includes a new U.S. Agency for Strategic Communications.” Part of the job description of the new Director of this agency would be to “craft and implement an interagency strategic communications strategy, oversee U.S. broadcasting, and administer grants to nonprofit groups engaged in useful information operation activities.” A key responsibility of this director would also be to coordinate strategic communication between agencies. Let’s hope that the next Congress and President will take this advice in order to improve our currently poor ability to communicate with the rest of the world.