Double-edged diplomacy: U.S. tries to oust Iranian regime via Twitter

Tuesday, February 15, 2011 1:01 AM By dwi

examiner.com -

A State Department spokesperson said the U.S. is attempting to fall the Persian program by encouraging contestant groups finished targeted “tweets” amid violent anti-government protests that erupted in Persia on Monday, according to the USA Today’s metropolis composer and Mimi Hall, who wrote:

State Department spokesman Mike Hammer said the government's Twitter information is consistent with U.S. tact but offers more direct occurrence with Iranians in their efforts to overthrow Ahmadinejad's regime.

"We want to attain trusty that our views are existence heard by Persian audiences, especially young people," he says. "Because of the realistic media dark and restrictions imposed by the Persian government, we are looking for any way to attain trusty our positions are country to all Iranians."

Tweeting Diplomacy

In Tehran dozens of protesters were scraped and one reportedly killed, as tens of thousands of Iranians came discover to voice frustration against the sitting Islamic program â€" amend conditions for the U.S. to exploit.

State Department officials say they are disagreeable to see from the revolutions in Egypt and Tunisia, where ethnic media helped grass-roots movements fall restrictive dictators. Undersecretary of State Judith McHale asserted that the U.S. wants to accomplish discover and center to the Iranians while presenting them with U.S. views and values.

U.S. polity organisation began tweeting messages in Iranian on Sunday on two Twitter accounts: @USAdarFarsi and @USAbilAraby. Tweets emanating from the State Department within the time 24 hours include:

STATE DEPARTMENT TWEETS

“We want to tie in your conversation”.

"U.S. calls on Persia to earmark grouping to savor same universal rights to peacefully assemble, shew as in Cairo.”

"#Iran has shown that the activities it praised Egyptians for it sees as illegal, illegitimate for its possess people."

"US calls on #Iran to earmark grouping to savor same universal rights to peacefully assemble, shew as in Cairo."

Twitter Backlash

Some experts claim using Twitter as a diplomatic agency to impact tumultuous events in foreign lands is rife with peril. Zeynep Tufekci, a sociology academic at the University of Maryland-Baltimore County believes the U.S. should reconsider its approach:

"These uprisings are organically driven, so politically, it's delicate. Given the reputation the United States has had in the area, especially in Iran, I'm not trusty it makes sense to say 'We're part of your history; permit me tie in the conversation,'"she said. "It's like an 800-pound pongid that capableness not hit the witting effect of activity democracy. Maybe it makes sense, at this point, to take a travel back."

According to Fordham University media studies academic Apostle Levinson, Twitter's lifeblood is the authenticity and trait of tweets. Mr. Levinson explained:

“The State Department has to be extremely careful. If these tweets come crossways as communiqués, they'll go against the basic capableness of Twitter â€" hearing directly from people. It's a venturous undertaking. And Persia could denounce any tweets ... as phony."

Suggested by the author:
  • U.S. fears ism capableness actually melody in Egypt
  • Anarchy in Egypt: Death sound reaches 100, protests nous into period 6 (slideshow)
  • Egypt’s Freedom Riots: Democracy cheater returns from exile
  • The Tunisians themselves: U.S. staleness not interfere with the people’s intifada
  • Scenes from the African Revolution (photos)

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