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Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!harpo!eagle!mhuxl!houxm!ihnp4!inuxc!pur-ee!uiucdcs!uokvax!rigney
From: rigney@uokvax.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.politics
Subject: Re: anti-nuke questions - (nf)
Message-ID: <4283@uiucdcs.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 1-Dec-83 23:35:39 EST
Article-I.D.: uiucdcs.4283
Posted: Thu Dec  1 23:35:39 1983
Date-Received: Sun, 4-Dec-83 04:14:29 EST
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#R:hou5a:-43700:uokvax:5000027:000:1253
uokvax!rigney    Nov 30 20:15:00 1983

The budget for Voice of America, Radio Liberty and all similar 
programs is a few tens of millions of dollars, if that much.  They
are in some cases using equipment left over from WW 2, and are
desperately in need of funding to upgrade.  The Soviets jam them
very strongly, but they are still eagerly listened to in the U.S.S.R.,
by the people there.  The Soviet people know their own broadcasts
and papers are purely propaganda, and love hearing outside reports,
but it is very difficult.    I only wish we could use the money for 
ONE MX to upgrade Radio Liberty instead; we'd get a lot more value
for our money.
Radio Liberty never pretends to be anything other than what it is.
On the other hand, the KGB directorate of disinformation prefers
to plant its stories in non-communist sources, to provide an air
of legitimacy.  As well, it uses such tactics as forgery to present
documents supposedly from the U.S.; an example is their forged letter
from Reagan to Spain, harshly criticizing the latter, in an attempt
to alienate and isolate the U.S.
I'm not saying the peace movements are KGB-controlled, or even KGB
dupes; their concerns are quite real.  I AM saying that the KGB is
using the movements for their own purposes, and fanning the flames.