Letter to the Financial Times

September 25, 2008

Letters Editor
Financial Times
Number One Southwark Bridge
London, SE1 9HL, UK

To the Editor:
With the declining image of the United States around the world, it should come as no surprise that the majority of Americans rank the need to repair the international legitimacy of America as the top foreign policy issue facing our nation (Americans want a better global image to restore US sway, survey shows, September 23).

The next President will face foreign policy challenges rivaling those at the start of the Cold War. Both candidates have recognized this and vowed to do more on public diplomacy to address these challenges. I applaud this recognition and hope that the next U.S. President comes into office in January with a comprehensive strategy for reviving public diplomacy that includes a plan for increasing America’s international education programs, which have long been seen as one of the nation’s most valuable foreign policy tools.

Victor C. Johnson
Senior Advisor, Public Policy
NAFSA: Association of International Educators