America At War:
The White House
With Jim Wilkinson
Coalition Information Center Director
Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2001; 11 a.m. EST

Soon after Sept. 11 the war of words between Coalition forces, the Taliban and Osama bin Laden filled airwaves around the world. When it became apparent that the United States and Britain were not winning the public relations battle in the Middle East, the White House established the Coalition Information Center, with offices in Washington, London and Pakistan, to react in real time to breaking news and present the American side of the conflict to Mideast viewers.

Jim Wilkinson, Deputy Director of Communications and Director of the Coalition Information Center at The White House, was online to discuss the information war in Afghanistan and the world.

A transcript follows.

Editor's Note: Washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control over Live Online discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions.

Fairfax, Va.: How are our coalition partners helping on this?

Jim Wilkinson: Hello Fairfax. Our coalition partners have been very strong in their support of the war on terrorism. For example, Prime Minister Blair has worked very closely with the United States and even has assigned key staff members to work in the CIC.

New York, N.Y.: When did it become apparent that the coalition needed an "Information Center" and are we now winning the propaganda war in the Mideast?

Jim Wilkinson: This is the first war of this century. It is also the first war with a 24hour news cycle. At any given time, somewhere in the world there are journalists covering this war who are on deadline. A 24 hour war effort requires a 24 hour effort to communicate the facts on the war. Part of our job is also to correct misinformation that the Taliban and others have continued to deliver.

Virginia: There have been recent reports of a videotape that was found in Afghanistan that purportedly shows bin Laden admitting to the Sept. 11 attack. Will this tape be shown to the American public? Will it be shown in the Middle East as a way of proving that our fight is just?

Jim Wilkinson: You probably saw the Vice President and others address this question yesterday on the Sunday shows. I can't add anything to their words on this.

Arlington, Va.: Jim,

What can you tell us about the public relations activity sponsored by the White House going on around the world to promote the U.S.? Is the PR activity successful?

Jim Wilkinson: We have opened three Coalition Information Centers -- or CICs. One is located in Washington, there is a center in London, and there is a center in Islamabad, Pakistan. The three centers work together to help serve the President and coalition partners in their efforts to communicate to the world about the war on terrorism.

Alexandria, Va.: A recent poll showed that 42 percent of the population of Kuwait viewed Bin Laden as a freedom fighter. 48 percent of the population of Pakistan thought that Israelis, not Moslems, attacked America on 9-11.

Do you feel that public opinion in most of the Islamic world (except for Turkish-speaking areas) is a lost cause?

Jim Wilkinson: In the Islamic world expert after expert has come forward to say that bin Laden doesn't speak for Islam, which is a religion of peace. The State Department, under the leadership of Undersecretary Charlotte Beers, is working on efforts to improve the way world nations view the U.S.

Malvern, Pa.: Given the quickness of the Taliban retreat, how will you relay a hope filled new begining for the people of Afghanistan?

Jim Wilkinson: Glad you asked that. The U.S. has long been the largest humanitarian aid donor to the people of Afghanistan. While the Taliban are retreating, they are still fighting and as Secretary Rumsfeld as said, this will take some time. That said, we are doing everything we can to get humanitarian aid as soon as possible to the innocent people of Afghanistan. The Taliban, bin Laden, and al Qaeda have actually stolen food meant for the innocent and have a long history of oppressing women. The new agreements from the Bonn meetings actually give women a seat at the table and have given them new hope. As you know, the First Lady has led an initiative to help give Afghan women hope and from the news accounts, it looks like they have hope indeed. But Afghanistan has a long road to recovery from the Taliban and al Qaeda and the US is doing everything it can to help.

San Francisco, Calif.: Is your agency noting anti-American propaganda so that you will be able to answer the charges and rumors being spread against us?

Jim Wilkinson: Yes. We try to respond instantly. We actually put out a document out of our Pakistan CIC called the "Catalog of Lies." This document outline lie after lie from the Taliban. By using the facts to counter their propaganda, we are able to discredit their statements and focus the media's attention on their atrocities against innocent Afghans.

Kansas: I know that early on there were problems with al Jazeera TV. Have these problems been solved? What is the Information Center's dealings with the network?

Jim Wilkinson: The State Department works closely with Al Jazeera and other middle east media outlets. We are working to get as many US officials on these outlets to help tell our story about the war against terrorism.

Arlington, Va.: How many people are working in your information centers around the world. How can we help?

Jim Wilkinson: Don't want to get into specifics but we have 30 or so in Washington. The London CIC is a little larger and White House Director of Media Affairs Tucker Eskew is actually in London representing the White House. We also have a significant presence in Pakistan and Greg Jenkins has gone over as the WHite House representative to that CIC.

Virginia: How is your work different from the special operations' psychological warfare units at Ft. Bragg?

Jim Wilkinson: The psyops groups deal more with the military aspects of this operation. We focus more on communicating broader messages such as our humanitarian efforts, the efforts by the Taliban and al Qaeda to oppress their citizens, the terrorists' ties to the international drug trade, etc.

Australia: Can you give us an example of the propaganda that you say the Taliban is spreading. Thank you and God bless.

Jim Wilkinson: The Taliban has a long list of examples. For example, they accused the coalition of targeting civilians in our bombing raids. Well, the facts show that the Taliban actually placed their military assets near mosques, hospitals, aid stations and civilian neighborhoods. Al Qaeda and the Taliban were actually using their citizens as human shields. We were able to work with the Pentagon to release a photo showing their military assets near a mosque and actually released a comprehensive document known as the "Catalog of Atrocities" to show just how evil al Qaeda really is.

Austin, Tex.: No question, I just want to thank you for what you are doing.

Jim Wilkinson: Thanks. I am a native Texan and wish I was in Texas with you. They really don't have good Mexican food restaurants here. :)

Plano, Tex.: Will one of the keys to your effort be making sure that your counter arguments are the truth, and making sure all facts are tripled checked? It will only take a few well known false statements to derail the whole effort.

Jim Wilkinson: Hello Plano. Everything we release is sourced and is factual. The other side focuses on propaganda, we focus on facts. We try to source numerous news reports and other credible sources to ensure that we are always factual. The truth and the facts beats enemy propaganda every time.

San Francisco, Calif.: I actually got up early so I could log onto this chat. Who's idea what is to set up the CIC? Have you seen the effects of your work in the Middle East?

Jim Wilkinson: Good morning out there. Hope you at least are having coffee. Soon after September 11 the President told his counselor Karen Hughes that her mission would be to help communicate the war on terrorism. Karen worked with our allies to help craft a structure that has now evolved into the CICs that we have today.

Washington, D.C.: The U.S. failure to explicitly articulate a new foreign policy paradigm to replace the retrograde "post-Cold War" term puts us at a disadvantage and leaves a major void in our message and mission. This void gives antagonists armed with today’s powerful information technology the opportunity to falsely characterize and malign America’s international agenda. At the end of World War II, President Truman’s said: "The American people are determined to work for PEACE on earth... What we envisage is a program of development based on the concepts of democratic FAIR dealing." In his inaugural address, President Bush also evoked the American ideals of "FAIR dealing" and the "balance of power that favors freedom." How about a new "Fair Peace" maxim for U.S. foreign policy to replace the improvident "post-Cold War" term, and to put the latest very limiting "war on terrorism" terminology in context?

Jim Wilkinson: I disagree with your assessment on the foreign policy paradigm. I think President Bush, Vice President Cheney, Secretary Powell and NS Advisor Rice have done a great job of articulating the Bush doctrine that holds nations responsible for the terrorists they harbor.

Washington, D.C.: Has there been a shift in anti-Americanism in the Mideast since the campaign began, either for or against?

Jim Wilkinson: Hard to say. What is clear is that more and more experts and leaders from the region are condemning bin Laden and the frightening vision that he wants to export to the world.

Somewhere, USA: What is your day like now that you have this added responsibility? How often do you get woken up in the middle of the night from phone calls from Pakistan?

Jim Wilkinson: Mornings are very early. And we do get a lot of middle of the night calls from Pakistan. But we also wake them up a lot so we get our share of paybacks! :)

Arlington, Va.: First, thank you for coming here on what must be a busy morning. I have two questions --

Have you or your colleagues found it hard to deal with the press in Pakistan and neighboring Islamic countries? When do you see your mission ending?

Jim Wilkinson: Our Pakistan CIC deals mostly with the Pakistan press. Have to get back to you on that one. As for when our mission ends, I assume when the war ends. Not sure when that will be.

Reston, Va.: Who do you see as your target audience in the Middle East and through what media do you get to them?

Jim Wilkinson: We communicate with television and radio stations and a long list of newspapers in the region.

Vienna, Va.: If these tapes prove so conclusively that bin Laden was behind the Sept. 11 attacks, then we need more than just to hear "well, they haven't been made public." WHY haven't they been made public? Reasons have to be given. This is not some third-world banana republic with a censored press. We are just being told "they prove it." Well then, let us see for ourselves.

Jim Wilkinson: The experts will decide on the fate of the tape. There are lots of concerns that need to be considered.

Jim Wilkinson: Thanks everyone. I want to point out that tomorrow the President will lead a worldwide effort to remember September 11. Tomorrow is the 3 month anniversary of the attacks. More than 70 countries will join the President in holding events, many at our embassies. The WH event tomorrow will be at 8:46 a.m. EST and I hope you all will take a moment tomorrow to remember the victims and the survivors. It has been great talking to you today. The President appreciates all the support you are giving him and please let us know if you have ideas on how we can do better.

washingtonpost.com:

That wraps up today's show. Thanks to everyone who joined the discussion.

   |      |