Businessweek published an article titled Twitter Diplomacy. For the bearonbusiness crowd, it is timely. It feeds into the debate as to whether social networking is good for society.
The tag line on the Businessweek article is: “The U.S. State Dept. is enlisting Silicon Valley companies such as Google and Twitter to help bring high tech to Iraq and Afghanistan.” Then it provides the first ever Twitter post of Barham Salih, Iraq’s Deputy Prime Minister:
“Sorry, my first tweet not pleasant; dust storm in Baghdad today & yet another suicide bomb. awful reminder that it is not yet all fine here.”
Salih, with encouragement from Silicon Valley missionary’s, began using microblogging to publicize the inner workings of the Iraqi government. Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey explained: “A technology like Twitter can bring access and transparency to government.” Salih now has nearly 1,500 people following his posts, and he tweets about twice a day.
The Iran turmoil is an incredible illustration of the power of social network. Twitter was the primary vehicle for protesters to communicate with one another and to reveal to the rest of the world what was transpiring.
To me, it is near certain that social networking will profoundly change the world. The Inalienable Rights that are so eloquently laid out in the U.S. Constitution will find its staunchest ally in Social Networking. The Right to Free Speech; the Right to Pursue Happiness; Democracy and Capitalism will be harder to contain.
Will the world be better off? You’re damn right it will.
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Dan,
Great post and I agree with your take on this. Iraq is a struggling democracy, Iran is theocratical dictatorship, social netowrking will impact many lives for sure, epsecially those outright killed for expressing free speech. Censorship is alive and well and the rule of the sword will enforce this.
I find those in Iran with more courage and Moxie than our current President and party in power and are own media outlets. I would hate to have Mr. Obama feel like he was meddling in the business of a despot zealot nation, that will start killing those that have a moral compass and compelled to “tweet” no matter what the consequences are.
In this regard, social networking is changing the world as is other technologies, but rest assured Iran will crack down on this, just as China is with GOOG.
Scott, thanks for the comment. I am in a different chapter but perhaps in the same book regarding your comment on our President. I do not fault him for his approach to global issues–but I don’t think he (or anyone else) could have guess how North Korea, Iran, Talibans in Pakistan, etc. would have erupted so quickly into his administration. Obama has to be frustrated and perplexed. Again, I am not being critical of him–as I am surprised as well.
Dan,
I read you loud and clear, I am actually stunned at the lack of “nothing” coming from the Administration on foreign policy. It woukld appear the Obama handlers love polls, when polls came out suggesting more American’s wished they would do something regarding the Protesters, he finally had some “harsh” words for the regime. What does Obama’s message mean to those in Iran that had courage? it means for the time being you are on your own.
“but I don’t think he (or anyone else) could have guess how North Korea, Iran, Talibans in Pakistan, etc. would have erupted so quickly into his administration. ”
Dan are you serious here?
Anyone that understand’s the current optempo in the world and how the left deals with foreign policy knew this was going to happen and be the answer. We have had numerous examples in the past.
His mid-east US apology tour was answered with a hotel bombing in Pakistan.
Many on the left feel talking or not meddling will appease them. Appeasement and Hope are not strategies. Standing with the protesters would have taken guts, instead we got a shake of his Presidential finger just like scolding a puppy dog that missed the newspaper.
It seems very naive on the current Administration’s part to think appeasing and not meddling will somehow make the enemy like us more. Remember Spain’s railway bombing and ask yourself if appeasement is going to really work.
I am embarassed that our Great nation did not have the moral compass and display genuine kokoro and side with the Protestors.
It is actions like this that make us enemies of other nations.