Why is Radio Free Europe still relevant after the end of the Cold War?
It’s funny to hear some suggest, at least in Europe, that Radio Free Europe is a form of cultural indoctrination. First, I imagine that this sort of criticism does not come from people who follow us in our broadcast languages. Some people may not properly understand what we’re about. Second, I suspect this sort of criticism may come from people who are not fans of open markets. Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty continues to pass the market test. Our audiences love us. And the more autocratic the regime, the more vigorous the attempts to block our transmissions and oppress our consumers. An 18-year-old young man was arrested recently in Minsk for listening to Radio Liberty. In Iran, we have a reporter who has been held captive since January. Her crime? She traveled home to Iran to visit her sick mother—and she works for our Persian Service, Radio Farda. 2. What is the greatest challenge to transatlantic relations today? It’s not the tough issues we face, like blocking the Mullahs of Iran
