Condoleezza Rice said in her report to the Senate Committee on Appropriations that "public diplomacy", or the government's propaganda activities, was a vitally important element of U.S. national security strategy.
She said the U.S. sought to address people in the spirit of respect and partnership to put across the national policy and express the strength of U.S. ideas of freedom, equality, prosperity and justice. Rice said the White House requested $855 million for "public diplomacy" programs, and information and cultural exchanges with other countries, and $668 million for the Broadcasting Board of Governors to support radio, television and Internet broadcasting across the world, including in North Korea, Iran and Cuba, America's long-time adversaries.
