RADIO FREE IRAQ AND RADIO FREE IRAN: BACKGROUND, LEGISLATION, AND POLICY ISSUES FOR CONGRESS (CRS Report for Congress)
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| Release Date |
Jan. 7, 1999 |
| Report Number |
98-539 |
| Authors |
Susan B. Epstein, Foreign Affairs and National Defense Division |
| Source Agency |
Congressional Research Service |
Summary:
This report tracks legislation and issues pertaining to implementation of two new surrogate
broadcasting entities: Radio Free Iraq and Radio Free Iran.
Since the end of the Cold War, the U.S. government has continued to apply foreign policy tools
(that had helped promote the overthrow of communism) to current targeted situations such as the
threat posed by radical anti-American regimes in Iraq and Iran. One such tool is surrogate
broadcasting.
After the 1997-1998 confrontations over access to suspected weapons sites in Iraq, Congress
began considering various nonmilitary ways to remove Saddam Hussein from power, primarily by
supporting the Iraqi opposition. One course of action included establishing objective broadcasting
in Iraq and adding surrogate broadcasting to the existing general broadcasting into Iran. While
Congress supported these actions, the Administration showed less enthusiasm, particularly for a
surrogate service to Iran; many U.S. officials believed that relations with the new Iranian government
could improve and feared a U.S. surrogate service to Iran would impede progress.
The 105th Congress considered a number of measures relating to broadcasting into Iran and
Iraq.
In November 1997, within the context of the U.S. Information Agency's FY1998 appropriation,
Congress required the creation of surrogate broadcasting (referred to as the Persian or Farsi service)
to Iran. Early in 1998, both the House and Senate included language in the supplemental
appropriations ( H.R. 3579 ) to fund a new surrogate broadcasting service to be called
"Radio Free Iraq." On May 1, 1998, the President signed the bill into law-- P.L. 105-174 . Congress
also passed the foreign relations authorization bill ( H.R. 1757 ) which would have
authorized Radio Free Iraq and Radio Free Iran to be administered by Radio Free Europe/Radio
Liberty (RFE/RL); however, the President vetoed the bill on October 21, 1998 because of unrelated
international family planning language. Within the context of the omnibus appropriations legislation
( H.R. 4328 / P.L. 105-277 ), Congress included language to authorize broadcasting in the
Farsi language via Radio Free Iran. Also, the Iraq Liberation Act of 1998 ( H.R. 4655 / P.L. 105-338 ), signed October 31, 1998, authorizes $2 million for USIA to assist Iraqi
opposition organizations with radio and television broadcasting into Iraq. (These funds were not
appropriated, however.)
Both Radio Free Iran and Radio Free Iraq began operating on October 30, 1998. The
Administration's fears of antagonizing the new Iranian government were confirmed when, three days
after RFE/RL's first Farsi broadcast, Iran withdrew its ambassador from Prague and vowed to restrict
trade ties with the Czech Republic. Similarly, Iraq officials also made clear its opposition to the
broadcasts and said this would "hurt economic ties with the Czech Republic."
(1)
1. Reuters, November 3, 1998.
