U.S. State Department now tweeting in Arabic

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By Douglas Stanglin, USA TODAY

Updated

The U.S. State Department began tweeting in Arabic today, saying it wants to be "in your conversation."

The Daily Caller tipped us to the story. You can see the first tweets here (assuming you can read Arabic.)

The site had 300 followers as of this afternoon.

The Daily Caller reports that the first tweet says Washington recognizes the "historic role" of social media in the Arab world.

"We want to be in your conversation," it says (so we're told.)

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About Doug Stanglin

Doug is an unrepentant news junkie who loves breaking news and has been known to watch C-SPAN even on vacation. He has covered a wide range of domestic and international news stories, from prison riots in Oklahoma to the Moscow coup against Mikhail Gorbachev. Doug previously served as foreign editor at USA TODAY. More about Doug

About Michael Winter

Michael Winter has been a daily contributor to On Deadline since its debut in January 2006. His journalism career began in the prehistoric Ink Era, and he was an early adapter at the dawn of the Digital Age. His varied experience includes editing at the San Jose Mercury News and The Philadelphia Inquirer.