Yup, I agree with what he said, although that we need to learn the difference between speaking/listening and discourse and understand there are different ways of achieving our ends that actually produce deeper, longer lasting, and better solutions.
On the meat of Triplett’s article, I’ve seen Keith Reinhard’s presentation (which included a video of the Kiwi quoted in the article) and listened to him talk. I agree with Business for Diplomatic Action’s mission, but to focus on better Hollywood produced commercials for a national security imperative like public diplomacy is nationalizing "America, F*** Yeah!", only mellower.
But, let’s start with what Steve said and hope Jim changes the trajectory established by Karen Hughes and backburner’s Reinhard’s suggestion.