{
  "id": "98-539",
  "type": "CRS Report",
  "typeId": "REPORTS",
  "number": "98-539",
  "active": false,
  "source": "EveryCRSReport.com",
  "versions": [
    {
      "source": "EveryCRSReport.com",
      "id": 105162,
      "date": "1999-01-07",
      "retrieved": "2016-05-24T20:47:38.876941",
      "title": "Radio Free Iraq and Radio Free Iran: Background, Legislation, and Policy Issues for Congress",
      "summary": "This report tracks legislation and issues pertaining to implementation of two new surrogate\nbroadcasting entities: Radio Free Iraq and Radio Free Iran. \n  Since the end of the Cold War, the U.S. government has continued to apply foreign policy tools\n(that had helped promote the overthrow of communism) to current targeted situations such as the\nthreat posed by radical anti-American regimes in Iraq and Iran. One such tool is surrogate\nbroadcasting.\n  After the 1997-1998 confrontations over access to suspected weapons sites in Iraq, Congress\nbegan considering various nonmilitary ways to remove Saddam Hussein from power, primarily by\nsupporting the Iraqi opposition. One course of action included establishing objective broadcasting\nin Iraq and adding surrogate broadcasting to the existing general broadcasting into Iran. While\nCongress supported these actions, the Administration showed less enthusiasm, particularly for a\nsurrogate service to Iran; many U.S. officials believed that relations with the new Iranian government\ncould improve and feared a U.S. surrogate service to Iran would impede progress.\n  The 105th Congress considered a number of measures relating to broadcasting into Iran and\n Iraq. \nIn November 1997, within the context of the U.S. Information Agency's FY1998 appropriation,\nCongress required the creation of surrogate broadcasting (referred to as the Persian or Farsi service)\nto Iran. Early in 1998, both the House and Senate included language in the supplemental\nappropriations ( H.R. 3579 ) to fund a new surrogate broadcasting service to be called\n\"Radio Free Iraq.\" On May 1, 1998, the President signed the bill into law-- P.L. 105-174 . Congress\nalso passed the foreign relations authorization bill ( H.R. 1757 ) which would have\nauthorized Radio Free Iraq and Radio Free Iran to be administered by Radio Free Europe/Radio\nLiberty (RFE/RL); however, the President vetoed the bill on October 21, 1998 because of unrelated\ninternational family planning language. Within the context of the omnibus appropriations legislation\n( H.R. 4328 / P.L. 105-277 ), Congress included language to authorize broadcasting in the\nFarsi 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\nopposition organizations with radio and television broadcasting into Iraq. (These funds were not\nappropriated, however.)\n  Both Radio Free Iran and Radio Free Iraq began operating on October 30, 1998. The\nAdministration's fears of antagonizing the new Iranian government were confirmed when, three days\nafter RFE/RL's first Farsi broadcast, Iran withdrew its ambassador from Prague and vowed to restrict\ntrade ties with the Czech Republic. Similarly, Iraq officials also made clear its opposition to the\nbroadcasts and said this would \"hurt economic ties with the Czech Republic.\" \n(1) \n     1.  Reuters, November 3, 1998.",
      "type": "CRS Report",
      "typeId": "REPORTS",
      "active": false,
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          "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/pdf/98-539",
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      "topics": []
    }
  ],
  "topics": [
    "Appropriations",
    "Foreign Affairs",
    "National Defense"
  ]
}