THE U.S. GOVERNMENT’S STRATEGIC COMMUNICATION CHALLENGES WITH THE WAR ON TERROR
Abstract
An organization’s reputation, productivity, and even its existence often
depend on the way the media and the public perceive its goals and policies.
As a massive organization, the United States government relies on the success
of the messages it disseminates to clearly communicate its mission in regards to
the current war on terror. The U.S. government and the Bush administration
face challenges in the monumental task of putting together a strategic
communications plan to support their policies. U.S. government agencies,
including members of the defense, intelligence, diplomatic and security
communities, have their own challenges in formulating and executing
individual, albeit collaborative strategies in promoting their mission regarding
the war on terror. This thesis lies in evaluating strategic communication
practices and interagency cooperation. As a partial result of the war on terror,
the United States’ global credibility has waned and therefore its efficiency in
promoting its policies has been called into question. This thesis studies the
government’s planning and execution of communication tactics in regards to
the war on terror. A better organized strategic communication, interagency
solution may change the world’s attitudes towards certain policy decisions and
ultimately the way the public views the war on terror. By exploring how
strategic communication methods have been implemented and analyzing lessons learned post September 11, 2001, this thesis explores the U.S.
government’s need for a tailored and refined interagency communication plan
for the ever-changing war on terror.