Want To See Disinformation In Action?

This is how the UN is reporting the speech of Mark Malloch Brown that got so much attention yesterday.

6 June 2006 – The United Nations Deputy Secretary-General today called for greater United States engagement with the UN, warning that Washington cannot “go it alone” in approaching diverse problems ranging from the threat of bird flu to the situation in violence-wracked Darfur, Sudan, while the world body needs its host country’s leadership to tackle these pressing challenges.

It's all positive, absolutely none of the vitriol Mr. Brown threw at Rush Limbaugh, Fow News or the American people is reported whatsoever. Not. One. Word. In other words, this is complete disinformation. A complete distortion.

While the US is constructively engaged with the UN – on issues such as Lebanon, Afghanistan, Syria, Iran and the Middle East, “that is not well known or understood, in part because much of the public discourse that reaches the US heartland has been largely abandoned to its loudest detractors” in the media.

“Exacerbating matters is the widely held perception, even among many US allies, that the US tends to hold on to maximalist positions when it could be finding middle ground,” he added, citing the proposed renovation of the dilapidated UN Headquarters in New York. “While an architectural landmark, the building falls dangerously short of city codes, lacks sprinklers, is filled with asbestos and is in most respects the most hazardous workplace in town. But the only government not fully supporting the project is the US.”

In other words, give us more money? Here's the New York Times report. Here's the UN release of Mr. Brown's actual speech (as opposed to the heavily redacted press office release).

As someone who deals with Washington almost daily, I know this is unfair to the very real effort all three Secretaries of State I have worked with –- Secretary Albright, Secretary Powell and Secretary Rice -– put into UN issues.  And today, on a very wide number of areas, from Lebanon and Afghanistan to Syria, Iran and the Palestinian issue, the US is constructively engaged with the UN.  But that is not well known or understood, in part because much of the public discourse that reaches the US heartland has been largely abandoned to its loudest detractors such as Rush Limbaugh and Fox News.  That is what I mean by “stealth” diplomacy:  the UN’s role is in effect a secret in Middle America even as it is highlighted in the Middle East and other parts of the world.

Oops, I wonder how long before that little link is broken…..