An Argument for Radio Free South America

Radio Free Europe was an important part of our efforts in the Cold War. The broadcasts enabled those behind the Iron Curtain to get some accurate information, and for the U.S. to be able to make its case for freedom to the oppressed millions under Soviet domination.

Fred Thompson writes about the need to bring back such a radio service, this time in South America where tyranny and dictatorships have been spreading:

Well, he's done it. Hugo Chavez was already systematically silencing criticism of his autocratic rule through threats and intimidation. Journalists have been threatened, beaten and even killed. Now he's shut down the last opposition television networks in Venezuela and arrested nearly 200 protesters – mostly students. It’s a monumental tragedy and the Venezuelan people will pay the price for decades to come. Americans are also at risk as he funds anti-American candidates and radicals all over Latin America.

It’s equally tragic that the U.S. is in no position to provide the victims of this emerging dictator with the truth. There was a time, though, when Americans were on the front lines of pro-freedom movements all over the world. I'm talking about the “surrogate” broadcast network that included Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty, often called "the Radios." ...

The Radios were not some bland public relations effort, attracting audiences only with American pop music. They engaged the intellectual and influential populations behind the Iron Curtain with accurate news and smart programming about freedom and democracy. They had sources and networks within those countries that sometimes outperformed the CIA. When Soviet hardliners and reformers were facing off, and crowds and tanks were on the streets of Moscow and Bucharest, the radios were sending real-time information to the people, including the military, and reminding them of what was at stake.

Then we won the Cold War. The USSR collapsed in 1991, and America relaxed. Military downsizing began and the Radios began to reduce broadcast air time to target countries.

There are enough friendly countries down there that it would be possible to reach most of the trouble areas with freedom-friendly broadcasts. With satellite technology, there's no area of the world that couldn't receive broadcasts, though there are probably few people in those areas with satellite-capable receivers.

I think Thompson's on to something here.