Public Diplomacy
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Information and influence: public dipomacy organizations like the Voice of America allow the U.S. to appeal to the force of global public opinion. |
Despite its strategic value, however, it has long been one of the most underappreciated and underfunded tools in the U.S. national security arsenal. Born during WWII, U.S. public diplomacy was subjected to much neglect during much of the 1950s, 60s, and 70s. Organizations like the Voice of America (pictured at right), Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, the United States Agency for International Development, and the United States Information Agency labored for in years in relative obscurity.
It took the election of Ronald Reagan – who understood the vital importance of communicating America’s message to the world – for this situation to be remedied. His political and ideological offensive against the Soviet Union was rooted in a renewed focus on public diplomacy. The hope and purpose that this effort gave to the Soviet population played a profound role in fomenting the collapse of the communist government there.
In today’s pitched battles with Islamic extremism, it is time to resuscitate U.S. public diplomacy, for it provides one of the most potent and cost-effective ways in which this country can combat the virulent and violent ideologies that motivate our enemies.
Mr. Gaffney is the host of Secure Freedom Radio, a nationally-syndicated radio program heard weeknights throughout the country. He is an associate author of highly acclaimed Shariah: The Threat to America and the publisher of over a dozen other books and monographs from the Center for Security Policy Press.
In April 1987, Mr. Gaffney was nominated by President Reagan to become the Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Policy, the senior position in the Defense Department with responsibility for policies involving U.S.-USSR relations, nuclear forces, arms control, missile defense policy and U.S.-European defense ties. He acted in that capacity for seven months during which time, he was the Chairman of the prestigious High Level Group, NATO’s senior politico-military committee. He also represented the Secretary of Defense in key U.S.-Soviet negotiations and ministerial meetings.
From August 1983 until November 1987, Mr. Gaffney was the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Nuclear Forces and Arms Control Policy under Assistant Secretary Richard Perle.
From February 1981 to August 1983, Mr. Gaffney was a Professional Staff Member on the Senate Armed Services Committee, chaired by the late Senator John Tower (R-Texas). And, in the latter 1970’s, Mr. Gaffney served as an aide to the late Senator Henry M. “Scoop” Jackson (D-Washington) in the areas of defense and foreign policy.
Mr. Gaffney holds a Master of Arts degree in International Studies from the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies and a Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service from the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service.
Mr. Gaffney’s leadership has been recognized by numerous organizations including: the Department of Defense Distinguished Public Service Award (1987), the U.S. Business and Industry Council’s Defender of the National Interest Award (1994), the Navy League of the United States’ Alfred Thayer Mahan Literary Achievement Award (1999), and the Zionist Organization of America’s “Louis Brandeis Award” (2003), the Western Conservative Summit’s Stephen H. Long Award (2015), the Council for National Policy’s George Washington Military Leadership Award (2016) and the IMPACT Award from Ginni Thomas and United in Purpose (2017).
Mr. Gaffney was born in 1953 and resides in the Washington, D.C. area.
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