Terrorism and Tactical Errors

The past few weeks have been rife with the spectacle of Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab’s foiled attempt to snuff out the lives of innocent Americans and citizens of the world.

Luckily his attempt was thwarted by Jasper Schuringa, otherwise known as the “flying Dutchman,” a young man who jumped over rows of seats to wrestle the wanna be bomber and save the lives of fellow passengers.

What a “Holiday Hero.”

While we’re thankful Umar literally didn’t have “the b_ _ _s” to go through with his diabolical plot, what’s puzzling is how our ace team of high-powered political advisors couldn’t adequately counsel the leader of the free world.

No one can do it alone. We all need a team of advisors/supporters to be in peak operating mode. If you can’t trust your instincts or “team of advisors” to know when it’s time get back to work (officially/as in back to Washington), then it kind of makes you wanna say “Huh?”

Some say the president had a rough year and he needed a little down time. I say ask the 7 million Americans who are unemployed how bumpy the past year has been for them and their families.

Guess what? The year would have been a lot more volatile if a man hadn’t literally hurled himself through the air to thwart a mid-air explosion.

What oh what will we do if a terrorist plot goes through?

Many pundits say the terrorists may have done us a favor, and I tend to agree. Perhaps now we’ll go into 9/12 mode – the day after 9/11 and ramp up our allegiance to country and conscience, taking the time to all do our part to keep America safe.


Mission Possible: Global Benefits of Being Media Savvy

Yes, President Obama is media savvy. But this was a big “misstep” and everyone on the home team knows it for sure. While the President serves as mission control, we all know there’s a collection of smart men and women who share the helm as it pertains to the distribution of news and information to key audiences.

Via colleagues in a vast network of communications/associate positions, they develop and massage important relationships with and monitor news distributed to:

> Government (Pentagon, State Department, Homeland Security, etc.)
> Multi-Channel Media representatives (traditional news organizations like CNN, social networks like “Twitter,” linked in, etc., laptop/desktop communicators, TV, radio, citizen journalists, blogs)
> Organizations
> Leadership Groups

Many, Robert Gibbs (Press Secretary) and David Axelrod (Communications Director) to name a few, are specifically charged to lead divisions of information disciples, otherwise known as mass (news/info networks), niche marketing (social networks) and a wealth of grassroots to global public relations organizations that disseminate messages on a moment-by-moment basis.

These “ace communicators” advise the President on how and when the media can and should be used to get the word out to key publics/audiences. And, they can effectively persuasive messages (and visuals) to keep the mindset of Americans calm.

Palm trees and beach backdrops – in the midst of airport security breaches –
just doesn’t pass muster.

These media monitoring soldiers are an important part of today’s information militia.
Everyone must have a strategically solid game plan. No one, especially the communicators, must waver from the mission at hand.

It’s tricky, because other branches of government have delineated tasks. Media gurus must focus on multiple missions. In fact, that’s why the Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that PR careers will increase 24% through 2018.


Vacation Vacuum

Lesson: Keep vacation time to a minimum when the sanctity of the free world is at stake. If I had the good fortune to be on the President’s “A Team,” I would have counseled him to:

> After the Christmas Day bomb attempt, immediately take Air Force One back to the mainland and set strategy from the confines of the nation’s capital. Be near the Pentagon.

> Communications specialists and senior execs can then strategize eye to eye, not via BlackBerry or Skype.

As you know, I’m not big on vacations. I’d much rather work and take “snippets” of time on any given day to regroup.

Often, vacations result in lost time and reduced momentum. In sum, you loose your mojo. When others are on vacation, I’d just rather work. For me, it helps me keep my edge and usually I come out ahead of the pack.

Media Management Mistep: If you’re the President and someone has just tried to blow up an American airplane, it’s not acceptable for the global public to see palm trees in the background or news coverage of your SUV caravan on patrol from the golf course.

It doesn’t matter how many press conferences you’ve held or what a somber tone you’ve struck. Remember, pictures speak louder than words, and I can still see those palm trees swaying. [Disclaimer: I have a conference later this year in Hawaii, more on that later.]

These recommendations are for our Commander-in-Chief or rank in file CEO’s. Use the precious “intellectual capital” you’ve earned to:

> Set the right tone;

> Highlight substantive and meaningful messages;

> Consider all audiences.

The President certainly can’t help that he’s from a beautiful locale – good for him. But also, think about grieving families of armed service members who lost loved ones in battle in Iraq or Afghanistan. How do they feel when they see these palm trees swaying in the background during the holiday season? How do these visuals play out in middle America? Could a “middle American” vacation perhaps have been better for 2009? Could a visit to the South Side of Chicago been planned with a midnight candlelight vigil encouraging local youth to start 2010 off right without violence that has senselessly snuffed out the lives of scores of teenagers.

Visuals add vitality to any story. Visuals count big.


Maureen Dowd - New York Times

Kudos to Dowd for today’s spot on analysis of the President and his politics; well put!
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/10/opinion/10dowd.html?em