Rep. Mac Thornberry, R-Texas, has a guest blog on the Heritage website this week. He talks about some of the challenges of technology, such as when it is used by enemies, and a new House caucus he has set up with Rep. Adam Smith, D-Wash.:

Today, we are a world away from the fall of the Berlin Wall, especially when it comes to communication.  This is largely a result of the widespread adoption of cellular technology, the proliferation of broadcast, and the advent of the Internet.  Initiatives that once served U.S. interests abroad may now hinder them.  For example, language in the Smith-Mundt Act ties the hands of U.S. strategic communicators to counter online jihadists.  Some on-air contributors to Radio Farda and Radio Liberty are prone to curious assertions that many Americans may be surprised to hear from taxpayer-funded “pro-American” radio…

There is no one right answer to winning the war of ideas, and any solution requires bipartisan consensus.  A solid first step is establishing the Strategic Communication and Public Diplomacy Caucus in the House of Representatives, which I have done with Congressman Adam Smith (D-WA).  Our goal is to bring together a bipartisan group of Representatives with an interest in waging and winning the war of ideas.  As the 9/11 Commission Report reminds us, “If the United States does not act aggressively to define itself in the Islamic world, the extremists will gladly do the job for us.”  America can’t afford for that to happen.

Thornberry also introduced HR 489 on Jan. 13, 2009, to “improve the conduct of strategic communication by the Federal Government.” It was referred to the House Foreign Affairs Committee and has two co-sponsors  but hasn’t seen any action yet.