THE U.S. GOVERNMENT’S STRATEGIC COMMUNICATION CHALLENGES WITH THE WAR ON TERROR

ii An organization’s reputation, productivity, and even its existence often depend on the way the media and the public perceive its goals and policies. As a massive organization, the United States government relies on the success of the messages it disseminates to clearly communicate its mission in regards to the current war on terror. The U.S. government and the Bush administration face challenges in the monumental task of putting together a strategic communications plan to support their policies. U.S. government agencies, including members of the defense, intelligence, diplomatic and security communities, have their own challenges in formulating and executing individual, albeit collaborative strategies in promoting their mission regarding the war on terror. This thesis lies in evaluating strategic communication practices and interagency cooperation. As a partial result of the war on terror, the United States ’ global credibility has waned and therefore its efficiency i