Now More Than Ever: For A Free Europe, Keep Radio Free Europe

The Center for Security Policy today called on President Bush to reject advice he has received that would result in the termination of the operations of Radio Free Europe (RFE) and its sister station Radio Liberty (RL), which broadcasts to the Soviet Union. According to press reports, presidential decisions about the future composition of U.S.-supported international broadcasting mechanisms are in the offing.

"Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty have been windows on the world for uncounted millions over a period of nearly forty years," Frank J. Gaffney, Jr., the Center’s director, noted. "Today, every bit as much as in the past, these autonomous organizations are trusted — and cherished — by their audiences as sources of independent, reliable information about the United States and international events."

During his tour of the United States last November, Lech Walesa underscored this point vividly. He said of Radio Free Europe’s role in Poland’s liberation, "Would there be land and earth without a sun?" and that without RFE, Solidarity would not have existed.

Gaffney added, "It is simply inconceivable that the Bush Administration, which has made much of its commitment to democratic reforms in Eastern Europe, would voluntarily choose to deny the champions of such reform one of their most important assets — RFE/RL’s ability credibly to inform, and thereby to inspire, the people of the region in their struggle for freedom."

In an analysis released today entitled For a Free Europe — Radio Free Europe, the Center critically considered the various arguments being made in some quarters to begin dismantling Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty. In particular, it notes that in most — if not all — of the regions reached by RFE/RL the transition to genuine democratic political and free market economic systems is far from certain, to say nothing of it being complete. This study concludes, moreover, that if and when this process of transformation is completed, the unique capabilities and resources of the Radios will still be required.

On this point, Bill Murphy, a member of the Center’s Board of Advisors and former Director of Research at RFE, observed, "Even under the best case, RFE/RL will be needed for many years to come. Not only will their news and commentary programming remain of enormous importance. In addition, the Radios will be invaluable to newly freed peoples, first as a repository of information vital to any efforts to chronicle and comprehend a past long concealed — and/or distorted — by previous communist regimes and second, as a training ground in the mechanics of a free press."

Copies of For a Free Europe may be obtained by contacting the Center.