1115.org

While we’re busy spreading freedom, something else is happening:

Polls overseas show Muslims’ views of the United States going through the floor. Even in NATO ally Turkey, the United States’ favorable rating is down to 9 percent, according to a recent Pew Research Center poll, down from 30 percent five years ago and 52 percent in 2000.

Presidential BFF Karen Hughes is Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs. Upon her nomination, the AP reported:

Declaring the United States “must do better job of engaging the Muslim world,” Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice introduced former presidential adviser Karen Hughes on Monday as the Bush administration’s choice for a State Department post designed to change Islamic perceptions about America.

At her swearing-in ceremony, the President said:

By spreading the hope of freedom across the broader Middle East, Condi and Karen — or should I say Madam Secretary and the Ambassador — understand that spreading the message of freedom requires an aggressive effort to share and communicate America’s fundamental values.

And so they have an ambitious agenda to carry out. First, I’ve asked them to marshal all the resources of the federal government to this critical mission. Public diplomacy is the job of every member of my administration. As the Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs, Karen will direct the State Department’s efforts to communicate with the world, and at the same time, she will coordinate the work of our administration in support of this vital mission, ensuring that every agency and department gives public diplomacy the same level of priority that I do.
[…]
Karen will deliver the message of freedom and humility and compassion and determination. She knows that freedom is not America’s gift to the world. She knows that freedom is the Almighty God’s gift to every man, woman and child in this world. She will help America seize this moment of opportunity by working with other nations and peoples to replace tyranny with tolerance, and overcome hatred with hope. Together, we’re going to help millions achieve the non-negotiable demands of human dignity so they can build a better life for their children, and so we can lay the foundation of peace for our children and grandchildren.

At what point does Hughes resign, apologize, and/or return her salary for the last two-and-a-half years? At what point do Republicans, with accountability and responsibility supposed planks in their platform, call for her to do any of the above?

It’s difficult to imagine anyone producing less results than Ms. Hughes. Even Rumsfeld managed to get the Army and Marines into Baghdad. To rate as poorly as Hughes, Rummy’s Iraq war plan would have had to involve invading Kuwait and converting all Kuwaitis to Buddhism.