Dozens of United States Department of State officials have filed a formal dissent cable criticising the Department’s lack of forceful public messaging about the violent breach of the US Capitol building.
The dissent cable, directed at Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo (pictured) has been signed by more than 70 officials, according to one source.
Diplomats, who advocate for fair elections and democracy abroad, privately said the events that were instigated by President Donald Trump had done untold damage to US stature and prestige on the world stage.
They pointed to US adversaries and autocratic rulers, from Russia to Zimbabwe, who were trying to use the scenes of violence in Washington to undermine US calls for democratic reforms in their own countries.
As US allies abroad watched with shock and horror as the mob breached the Capitol, the State Department ordered its embassies not to issue any new statements, social media posts, or public messaging on the development.
Critics within the Department said that order left US public diplomacy abroad temporarily marooned during what some American leaders have referred to as one of the darkest chapters in modern American democracy.
However, other officials insisted that the order was simply meant to prevent embassies from issuing pre-prepared posts on other issues given the gravity of the situation in Washington, and stressed it was only a temporary pause.
They pointed out that Mr Pompeo, as well as various US Ambassadors around the world, had since issued their own statements condemning the violence and addressing the implications for America’s image on the global stage.
A State Department spokesperson said that out of respect for the unacceptable events that occurred on 6 January at the Capitol, the Department took the prudent measure to temporarily pause planned social media activity.
The spokesperson did not address questions on the dissent cable.
Washington, 11 January 2021
