US

State Dept. Responds to Official Foreign Country Profile Changes That Include Obama’s Achievements

Obama State Department country profiles

President Barack Obama poses with other leaders of the G-20 in June 2012. (AP)

The State Department says recent changes to its official foreign country profiles that include Obama administration accomplishments are simply a way to provide unique information — not to tout the current president’s achievements.

The Heritage Foundation’s Jim Roberts first noted the changes to the State Department’s “Background Notes” series on Thursday, which recall the White House’s edits earlier this year inserting Obama factoids into the official biographies of past presidents. The department’s website states only that as of May 2012, Background Notes “are in the process of being replaced by Fact Sheets that focus on U.S. relations with each country.”

“The old Background Notes were sui generis—useful reference materials that were more comprehensive than the practical but choppy CIA “Factbook” and other U.S. government publications,” Roberts wrote. “Now, though, State has dropped everything from the Background Notes but the section on relations with the U.S. No more historical context, no recounting of complex and long-standing issues in the country. Just cut to the chase—that is, the time when the current administration came to power.”

Roberts — who used to write the Background Notes when he worked for the State Department — compared Brazil’s new “Fact Sheet” with the last George W. Bush administration-era version, which doesn’t mention any U.S. president by name. He found that the 300-word section on U.S.-Brazil relations took up just 7 percent of the 4,100-word Bush document.

Conversely, fully 70 percent (830 words) of the Brazil Fact Sheet, which is focused exclusively on U.S. relations with Brazil, discusses President Obama either directly by name (twice!) or in the context of the plethora of programs his Administration has launched with Brazil, including a shared “commitment to combat discrimination based on race, gender, ethnicity, or lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) status; to advance gender equality; a bilateral instrument that targets racism; support for HIV/AIDS prevention, promotion of clean energy technologies in Brazil, and mitigation of climate change.”

But it isn‘t simply inserting language about Obama’s accomplishments: A look at other countries’ new profiles reveals what seems like an effort to gloss over the past — specifically, the previous occupant of the White House. The new Mexico Fact Sheet, for example, mentions the Merida Initiative — a U.S.-Mexico partnership to fight organized crime — but not that it began under George W. Bush, as the previous version did. The new page for Iraq does not mention Bush by name once, while Obama’s name appears in it three times.

A State Department spokeswoman told TheBlaze that emphasizing Obama’s achievements over those of his predecessor is “not a valid way to look at” the new profiles.

Instead, she said the decision to change the Background Notes was made because much of the information previously featured — geographic or economic data on each country, for example — is now widely available elsewhere on the Internet, which wasn’t the case when they were first created for print 30 years ago. Indeed, the new Fact Sheets feature links at the bottom of the page to the State Department’s official country page, U.S. embassy page and others. The new series is meant to provide information unique to the State Department, the spokeswoman said.

And this State Department certainly is unique: As Roberts at Heritage noted, the department’s budget has increased from $38.7 billion to $50.2 billion since Obama took office, with thousands of people added to the payroll.

“Seems pretty easy to tell what many of them are doing,” he wrote.

(h/t Heritage Foundation)

Comments (100)

1 2 3
  • BurntHills
    Posted on August 17, 2012 at 9:59pm

    as soon as that national atrocity of a rabid communist obama has fled to one of his safe houses overseas and our America is restored, we must remove all traces glorifying that hideous heinous POS obama, the worst national atrocity and communist fraud that ever CAME to America and FOULED our fair soil.

    Report Post » BurntHills  
    • MIBUGNU2
      Posted on August 18, 2012 at 12:18am

      Who would have Guessed ?? It‘s all about Bama’….

      They are already starting to chip away on Mount
      Rushmore……Probably take out Washington and
      put BO in his place…Think I’m kidding ???????

      Report Post » MIBUGNU2  
    • robh
      Posted on August 18, 2012 at 1:32am

      Should any of us be surprised by the Narcissist in-Chief?

      Honestly, I expect no less from the Nation’s only affirmative action president.

      Report Post » robh  
    • dwilco77
      Posted on August 18, 2012 at 1:38am

      And what is really cool, is that they were able to print his achievements on the outside of the free matchbooks wich were handed out at the event.

      Report Post »  
    • pschlentz
      Posted on August 18, 2012 at 1:43am

      @BURNTHILLS,
      You’re absolutely right! Thi POS that currently sits in the WH with all his Czars and Communists are a disgrace to this Country. I have never in my life feared so much for the future of America.
      It is downright shameful. The Liberal Media should be ashamed of themselves, they are accomplices to his crimes and purposeful attempts to ruin everything wonderful about America.
      They should all get what they deserve….a long walk off a short plank!!

      Report Post »  
    • KURT1010
      Posted on August 18, 2012 at 7:55am

      Too much to take ! I like his intials BO , which stands for body odor , also his dogs name (BO) , really thinks alot of himselft.

      Report Post » KURT1010  
    • MDECKER
      Posted on August 18, 2012 at 12:56pm

      I would add, pop every basketball,tennis ball, beach ball, and cue ball, that has this arogant elitist’s face on it. Every text book that has been written, except those which reference the history of a man that almost stole the American Dream.

      Report Post »  
    • lukerw
      Posted on August 18, 2012 at 1:51pm

      The Ancient Egyptians would remove Hated Pharaohs from their King’s List… and run around destroying Statues & Cartouches of the Pharaoh. Then, another bad one would come.

      The American Founders wanted All Laws & Repeals PRESEVED… so, the People had a Record of Their ERRORs! DO NOT DO THIS AGAIN!

      Report Post » lukerw  
    • MRMADMAN
      Posted on August 18, 2012 at 3:10pm

      So Obama stormed the compound and shot Bin Laden himself, then single handedly landed curiosity on Mars. Freed the Iraqi people with no help from anyone, and pretty soon he is going to get credit for tearing down the Iron Curtian.

      Report Post »  
    • Questionman
      Posted on August 18, 2012 at 7:08pm

      You desreve to get shot!

      Report Post »  
    • Questionman
      Posted on August 18, 2012 at 7:09pm

      You desreve to get shot, you racist s-bag!

      Report Post »  
    • Questionman
      Posted on August 18, 2012 at 7:10pm

      test

      Report Post »  
    • PilgrimStuckInBizarroWorld
      Posted on August 18, 2012 at 9:13pm

      The “first lady” said before the election we have to change our history and that is what they are doing. Too bad that the truth always comes out in the end. The truth is the truth and there are too many sources to hide it.

      Report Post »  
    • jcldwl
      Posted on August 19, 2012 at 8:15am

      Our state department is nothing but communists. McCarthy was right and you see what they did to him.

      Report Post » jcldwl  
  • pwatkins
    Posted on August 17, 2012 at 9:58pm

    It is the most important thing you have ever done in your lifetime to get this man out of the WH…well next to accepting Jesus Christ as your Saviour.
    Vote for Romney/Ryan and every conservative republican possible…..

    Report Post »  
  • irishjarhead
    Posted on August 17, 2012 at 9:48pm

    What a shameful, spoiled little brat. I wonder if Oloser was spanked as a child? Despite being relatively tall, he has a little man complex. It must be hard knowing, deep down, that you are a nothing.

    Report Post »  
    • JQCitizen
      Posted on August 17, 2012 at 10:16pm

      Yes, I agree. He reminds me of those Kings in medieval days who commissioned scribes, and consumately killed them off, and found a new one when they wrote the record in any way that put the king in a bad light!

      What a LOSER!

      Report Post »  
  • alpha2omega47
    Posted on August 17, 2012 at 9:42pm

    Obama has probably bowed to everyone in the G20. They would probably find Obama’s lip prints on most of their rear ends.

    Report Post » alpha2omega47  
    • loriann12
      Posted on August 18, 2012 at 9:54am

      Didn’t Egyptians during the Pharoahs, scratch out every picture of their predicessor? They said if their name wasn‘t mentioned or their face wasn’t seen, they never existed. That’s what Obama is doing, setting himself up for Pharoah of the world.

      Report Post »  
  • I SPY
    Posted on August 17, 2012 at 9:38pm

    obams achievements? Name one…..

    Waiting, waiting, waiting, waiting………

    Report Post » I SPY  
  • eyestoseeearstohear
    Posted on August 17, 2012 at 9:17pm

    This is sickening.

    Obama is the FIRST POTUS with NO EXECUTIVE EXPERIENCE or
    PROOF of accomplishments OR grades to show he was capable or
    qualified to do the job he was hired to do.

    4 Years later – WE HAVE PROOF OF SEVERAL THINGS.

    A) HE IS/WAS NOT QUALIFIED.
    B) HE IS A LIAR & CONTINUES TO LIE.
    C) HE HAS GREATLY HARMED OUR COUNTRY AND
    SHOULD BE REMOVED IMMEDIATELY – before Nov. 6.

    Report Post »  
    • WakingSheep
      Posted on August 17, 2012 at 9:26pm

      I doubt he is going anywhere. Didn’t you here? WW3 is about to start…..

      Report Post »  
  • AnAmerican111
    Posted on August 17, 2012 at 9:12pm

    Criminals like OBAMA have to change history in order to hide the truth.

    Report Post »  
  • Anonymous T. Irrelevant
    Posted on August 17, 2012 at 9:08pm

    Except for the lady behind him, laughing at him, no one else in the G20 seems to be happy around Oblameus.

    Report Post » Anonymous T. Irrelevant  
    • dwilco77
      Posted on August 18, 2012 at 2:23am

      If you look at the picture, I bet he just ripped a big one, and it just hasn’t quite got to the second row.yet.

      Report Post »  
  • UTEPorangeandblueMINERS
    Posted on August 17, 2012 at 9:08pm

    This narcissistic a-hole is stiking previous administrations’ accomplishments from the record as if he was a glorious and triumphant pharaoh. It wouldn’t surprise me if he had huge statues of himself erected in every major city in the country, or enourmous murals of his ugly mug everywhere like Saddam Hussein had in Iraq.

    Report Post » UTEPorangeandblueMINERS  
    • sndrman
      Posted on August 17, 2012 at 9:52pm

      it’s coming

      Report Post »  
    • AJAYW
      Posted on August 17, 2012 at 10:29pm

      If it is put up they will have to pay to have it guarded around the clock or it will be torn down.

      Report Post »  
    • Questionman
      Posted on August 18, 2012 at 7:15pm

      What accomplishments, you stupid racist?
      The War in Iraq?
      Ray-gun nomics?
      The Clinton Admin?
      Please. You are Pathetic!

      Report Post »  
  • BIGWUN
    Posted on August 17, 2012 at 8:53pm

    Don’t forget that O and his allies made it possible for the (don‘t worry about ’em at all non-sectarian) Muslim Brotherhood to reinstitute crucifictions of Christians in Egypt. Mohammed-approved paedophilia, slavery, rape and murder of women soon to follow. The religion of peace… coming soon to a mosque in your home town. No question, O, God has a special place in his memory for you for all your great work in the world.

    Report Post »  
  • AJAYW
    Posted on August 17, 2012 at 8:50pm

    The only achievements the POS can claim with any truth is – he has done his best to divide this country and distory it for the last 3 years.

    Report Post »  
  • redneckgenius
    Posted on August 17, 2012 at 8:36pm

    the roads did it

    Report Post » redneckgenius  
    • The-Monk
      Posted on August 17, 2012 at 8:50pm

      Bill Clinton was the Rhodes Scholar.

      Obama is the Roads Scholar. : )

      Report Post » The-Monk  
    • Anonymous T. Irrelevant
      Posted on August 17, 2012 at 8:54pm

      Yeah, but YOU didn’t build it :-)

      Report Post » Anonymous T. Irrelevant  
    • The-Monk
      Posted on August 17, 2012 at 9:03pm

      Hi Anonymous T. Irrelevant,

      The only things “Scholars” build are young progressive minds.

      PS: Hope all is well with you and yours. : )

      Report Post » The-Monk  
  • bdandsl
    Posted on August 17, 2012 at 8:29pm

    When all is said and done, and the truth is known, obama will be remembered as the lying, most disastrous, fraudulent president in U.S. history.

    Report Post » bdandsl  
    • MIBUGNU2
      Posted on August 17, 2012 at 9:33pm

      Obama makes “The Peanut Man” shine !!

      Saw Carter the other day with a BIG SMILE

      on his face..said He was glad Obama became

      President, because it’s going to make him look

      good, because of Obama has done to the Country..

      Report Post » MIBUGNU2  
  • The-Monk
    Posted on August 17, 2012 at 8:28pm

    It‘s Bush’s fault…..

    Report Post » The-Monk  
  • freedomisasfreedomdoes
    Posted on August 17, 2012 at 8:24pm

    That’s pretty low. Rewriting past, present, potentially, future histories?

    Report Post » freedomisasfreedomdoes  
  • Tri-ox
    Posted on August 17, 2012 at 8:17pm

    “History began in 2008, so, all of you stupid Americas need to just shut up.” – The U.S. State Department

    Report Post » Tri-ox  
  • kalli
    Posted on August 17, 2012 at 8:15pm

    I hope the records will be updated to show this arrogant thug’s mug shot along with the description of how he was the first holder of the highest office in the land to commit treason against the USA.

    Report Post »  
  • Diane TX
    Posted on August 17, 2012 at 7:59pm

    “The new page for Iraq does not mention Bush by name once, while Obama’s name appears in it three times.”
    ______________________________________________________________

    Pride goeth before a fall, Mr. Obama.

    Report Post »  
    • thatsafact
      Posted on August 17, 2012 at 8:14pm

      Most narcissistic president in our great nations history and not smart enough to realize that people overseas are laughing at him. Signs of a very sick individual that writes about himself in the biographies of other presidents.

      Report Post »  
    • thatsafact
      Posted on August 17, 2012 at 8:19pm

      This president is a real piece of work. Jarrett has to stay and be paidfor her job at the WH of telling Obama what to do and keep his ego smoothed over. Anyone who has witnessed and experienced what this adminstration has done to our country these last three and half years knows Obama has no talents except one big mouth. Good God he needs to go. Can’t wait untiol November to vote against him. Even the liberal media can’t save him now.

      Report Post »  
    • Questionman
      Posted on August 18, 2012 at 7:11pm

      I’m wondering if any of the people bashing Obama for the state department daring to use his name in the new version bothered to check to see if Bush was referenced in the ones put out under his administration.

      The irony runs thick in this thread.

      Report Post »  
  • johnpaulkuchtajr
    Posted on August 17, 2012 at 7:52pm

    Do you think that the stellar achievement of the Ayatollah Obama’s administration will be the scuttling of the Keystone Pipeline?

    The numbers came out today for the percentage of oil imports by country into the USA. Guess whose share went up by 20% during the last year? If you guessed Saudi Arabia you’d be right.

    How much Saudi cash do you reckon is stacking up in a Saudi bank for the Ayatollah Obama’s golden years? What was the rejection of the Keystone Pipeline deal worth to Obama? One hundred million, two hundred fifty million?

    Canadian oil, NO! Saudi oil, YES!

    Report Post »  
    • Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
      Posted on August 17, 2012 at 7:58pm

      He also doesn’t like Canadian Beer.

      Obama’s ego has just got its own place on the periodic table….

      Lr – an element made up of mostly fecal matter, lies, and it’s molecules are negatively charged.

      Report Post » Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra  
    • The-Monk
      Posted on August 17, 2012 at 8:35pm

      Hi Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra,

      You forgot the co-compound of Lr….. Ai.

      As in L/Ai/r.

      Report Post » The-Monk  
    • Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
      Posted on August 17, 2012 at 8:41pm

      Hey Monk.
      Ai – when combined with Lr, creates fundamental change in peoples wallets, it turns all monatary substances to Ox.

      Report Post » Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra  
    • The-Monk
      Posted on August 17, 2012 at 8:55pm

      Hi Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra,

      Ain’t that the Tru/Th…..

      Report Post » The-Monk  
  • Tigress1
    Posted on August 17, 2012 at 7:50pm

    If they erase Bush from history, who will Obama blame everything on?

    Report Post » Tigress1  
    • doodleskeeper
      Posted on August 17, 2012 at 7:56pm

      ha!

      Report Post »  
    • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
      Posted on August 17, 2012 at 8:04pm

      He will find someone, after all he is a narcissist, and a messianic god-king complex driven individual who will find out this November he is all too real and not a god-king when he is fired. It will take quite a bit of doign to undo the lies and distortions of Obama and the administration to retell the truth and make sure it does not vanish again.

      Look for Obama to next do away with the founding fathers and have himself as the sole writer, signer and executor of the declaration of independance (after being redone in his Communist style of course) and try to use that as one more step in his insane desires to crush the nation.

      Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
      Posted on August 17, 2012 at 8:18pm

      He will blame America, we are all just lazy and not working hard enough to make him look good. Peons, you must work harder to fill the Kings coffers, just as an incentive, we will turn off all the water to your food source, if you are hungry, maybe you will work a little harder, for the glory of “The One”.

      Report Post » Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra  
    • FREEDOMoverFEAR
      Posted on August 18, 2012 at 2:53pm

      Darmok

      I’m a 27 year old small business owner I grew up on the bottom rung of the social ladder. One thing I noticed about poor people is the overwhelming majority of them are stupid and lazy. Obama‘s only compounding the problem telling them it’s not their fault when it clearly is, as well as, providing them with incentives to not work. Even now to this day when I visit old friends living in sh1tty apartments they spend much more than I do on entertainment and they work far less. Some people enjoy being poor unfortunately, and I feel that population is growing rapidly and will soon become the marjority.I do not believe anything will change this trend until people are held accountable for their actions. Such as having to raise a child not aborting it, paying for that child’s education and so on. But what do I know I’m just a kid from the wrong side of the tracks…

      Report Post » FREEDOMoverFEAR  
  • JUSTANOTHEROPINION
    Posted on August 17, 2012 at 7:48pm

    First of all, it’s shameful to use his office and official websites to tout his nothingness. But, if he’s going to, why doesn‘t he brag about the great job he’s done for us instead of the great job he’s done giving our money away to our enemies. This guy is so arrogant he believes history didn’t start until he came.

    Report Post »  
  • DIVINEPROVIDENCE1776
    Posted on August 17, 2012 at 7:44pm

    The State Department is a state within a state. They promote “universal values” not American values, the promote LGBT “equality” around the world in our name with our money. They cozy up to enemies, the enemy of my enemy is my friend. They need to be audited, and scaled down big time. Did you know when Thomas Jefferson was Secretary of State it was only him and his assistant. Get rid of Barry so we can get rid of Hillary(Soros-shadow party/state). I don’t want to see another Democrat POTUS for as long as I live. Throw them in the dustbin of history in Nov 2012! Save freedom and liberty for all Americans! Vote Romney/Ryan 2012!

    Report Post » DIVINEPROVIDENCE1776  
  • nobull14
    Posted on August 17, 2012 at 7:40pm

    Obummer a legend in his own mind ? I would be ashamed of my self ? . its a real low point for are country !!!!!!!!

    Report Post »  
  • wisehiney
    Posted on August 17, 2012 at 7:30pm

    SOB oughtta just say “I mooched off of the taxpayers and spent their money like a fool and took credit for it.”

    Report Post »  
  • All Pro
    Posted on August 17, 2012 at 7:28pm

    Moochelle said we had to change are history. Change you can believe in? I think not.

    Report Post » All Pro  
    • noland
      Posted on August 17, 2012 at 8:02pm

      Yea, Big change for the muslim brother-HOOD!!

      Report Post »  
    • Welcome Black Carter
      Posted on August 17, 2012 at 8:45pm

      The thing that scares me is they act as though no violation is severe enough to turn the public against them. Sadly, the democrat base is completely oblivious… they continue to toast each other with Kool-Aid …

      Report Post » Welcome Black Carter  
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