Your Jan. 8 editorial supporting the possible move of Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty from Munich to Prague failed to address a basic question: Even if Western radio is still vital in Eastern Europe, why must American taxpayers fund two such radio stations?
Moving RFE to Prague might lead to greater streamlining and less redundancy with Voice of America, but the operation would still be very expensive. I know; I worked at RFE in Munich for six years. Besides, a vast number of other Western radios broadcast into the East: the BBC World Service, Deutsche Welle, Radio Austria, Swiss Radio, etc. To argue that only the United States can broadcast effectively into Eastern Europe is sheer hubris.
The presence of neo-fascist Vladimir Zhirinovsky doesn’t change the fact that RFE provides little more than what is already offered to listeners in the East by VOA and other radio stations.
To say that moving RFE to Prague would be a “salving gesture” after denying NATO membership to the Czech Republic is patronizing. And no amount of symbolism is worth the cost of maintaining an outmoded and unneeded radio station. RFE has served its purpose. It’s time to pull the plug.
