Karen Hughes emphasized a massive project for the United States in announcing that she again will leave government service at the end of this year.

Hughes is one of President George W. Bush’s few remaining advisers from his days as Texas governor. She worked closely with the administration after Bush’s election, took time off from her assignments and, after returning to Washington two years ago, had been working in various efforts to improve the United States’ image abroad. Her most recent job was as an undersecretary of state.

In what seemed like an extreme understatement, Hughes said that bolstering the world’s view of America “is a long-term challenge” that will outlast her. “This will take a number of years,” she told reporters, realizing she was playing down something on which she has not had much impact in her return as a Bush aide.

Co-workers such as Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice are trying to project a positive spin. Rice said she accepted Hughes’ resignation “with a great deal of sadness but also a great deal of happiness for what she has achieved.” Hughes has said she will continue to work “outside the loop” and with her contacts and expertise.

Bush and Rice called Hughes back from Texas to help restructure how the U.S. projects itself, its policies, ideals and philosophies overseas. Yet the American image abroad probably never has been as shabby and disrespected as it is now, particularly in the Muslim world. America needs major miracles in the field of public diplomacy and such reparations are more than ever “the long-term challenge” Karen Hughes spotlighted.

Hughes, Rice and others in this field have worked hard to mend fences but we currently are looking at a project that will take at least another decade to show results. Whether the necessary thrust comes from the White House, Congress or the State Department is not important. What is vital is that it occurs.

“Long-term challenge” is a modest description of a monumental assignment for this nation, whether let by Democrats or Republicans.