Voice of America Broadcasts Into Iran Harming U.S. Interests

Washington, DC - An Oklahoma Senator says American taxpayer-funded radio broadcasts into Iran are actually harming U.S. interests. A report says Radio Farda, a joint project of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and Voice of America 'rarely takes a stance that could risk antagonizing the Islamic Republic'. The report also criticizes Voice of America's Persian service for seldom inviting government officials to explain the U.S. policy, but has given plenty of airtime to leaders of Hezbollah and anti-American advocates. In a letter to President Bush (website - news - bio) , Coburn said during a recent hearing, he heard from witnesses who testified that U.S. broadcasts into Iran 'do more to undermine our foreign policy than support it.'
After hearing that testimony, Coburn began investigating the VOA Persian Service and Radio Farda. "What I discovered was troubling," Coburn said. "Our broadcasts to Iran gave a significant amount of airtime to guests and content that undermine U.S. policy on Iran, often even supporting the propaganda of the Islamic Republic of Iran." Coburn was also troubled by the coverage of the President's State of the Union speech by two guests invited by VOA to analyze the speech. Among other things, Coburn is asking the President to look into reforms at the Broadcasting Board of Governors. To view Coburn's complete letter to the President, click here.