DX LISTENING DIGEST 1-149, October 15, 2001 edited by Glenn Hauser, wghauser@hotmail.com {Items from DXLD may be reproduced and re-reproduced only if full credit be maintained at all stages and we be provided exchange copies. DXLD may not be reposted in its entirety without permission. For restrixions and searchable 2001, 2000 contents archive see} http://www.angelfire.com/ok/worldofradio/Dxldmid.html [NOTE: If you are a regular reader of DXLD, and a source of DX news but have not been sending it directly to us, please consider yourself obligated to do so. Thanks, Glenn] ** AFGHANISTAN [non?]. Following item follows up the unID at the end of DXLD 1-147 Oct 13 by Robin L. Harwood, Tasmania, whence BBCM probably got the tip! (gh, DXLD) USA/Afghanistan: New US broadcasts for Afghanistan BBC Monitoring has observed what appears to be a new US-run radio station aimed at the population of Afghanistan. It has been heard on 8700 kHz shortwave in upper sideband mode from 0030-0530 and 1230- 1730 gmt on 14 and 15 October. The station has not yet been heard to give any formal identification. The following is the text of an announcement heard at 1645 gmt in Dari on 14 October. The broadcast was preceded and followed by lively Afghan music. [Announcer] "We draw your attention to a commentary now: For the attention of the noble people of Afghanistan. The forces of the United States are passing through your area. We have not come here to harm you. We have come to arrest Usamah Bin-Ladin, Al-Qa'idah and those who support him. We request that you stay away from bridges and roads for your own safety and do not interfere with the military operation and our troops. If you follow these instructions no harm will come towards you. Do not come near American troops. Remain in your own homes. We are not here to make your country our colony or to plunder it. When you see US forces and aircraft you should seek protection in some places and remain there until we leave your area completely. Roads, streets and bridges are dangerous places to travel or visit. The most safe place is your own homes. Don't listen to what Al- Qa'idah and the Taleban say. If you follow these instructions no harm will come to you. You should not forget that we do not want to harm innocent people." The announcement was followed by music. Further announcements from the US-run broadcast BBC Monitoring listened to a subsequent broadcast from the station between 0030 and 0130 gmt on 15 October: The following are excerpts from that broadcast. [Announcer in Dari] ... "the coalition countries want to prove to you and other Muslims in the world that the aim of this war is not to eliminate Islam but we want bring to justice those who have shown disrespect to the name of Prophet Mohammad, may God peace and blessing be upon him and his family, and to God Almighty and Islam." He goes on to say that the world prays for those who committed crimes to be brought to justice... [Announcer in Pashto] Referring to a special religious day which is apparently being observed in the Islamic world and says: "We know that this day is a very sacred day and is the day for prayers. In order to demonstrate our respect for this holy day, we express our support for all Muslims who live in the world. The participating countries are showing disrespect to you and to your religion." He goes on speaking about the important of this holy day... [Announcer in Pashto] Dear listeners. This radio will broadcast two programmes every day for the pleasure of the noble Afghan people. The first programme will be in the morning and the second programme in the afternoon. We will broadcast music and commentaries in our programmes. Our first programme will start at 0500 [local time, 0030 gmt] in the morning and ends at 1000 [0530 gmt]. Our second programme will start at 1700 [1230 gmt] in the afternoon and end at 2200 [1730 gmt] in the evening."... [Announcer in Dari] "The coalition countries comprise peace-loving countries from throughout the world. Their aim is to put an end to terror. We have given a commitment to help you in this anxious stage. We do not want you and your family to suffer. Recently people in our country have been killed because of an act by terrorists. Families have lost their loved ones. Mothers and fathers lost their daughters and sons. Children lost their mothers and fathers because of this attack. We know that your family have also lost their dear ones because of drought and war in the country. We share the feeling of loss of our dear ones. To the same extent that we have the strength to fight, we also have the power and capability to help you in this crisis situation. He goes on speaking about starvation and says: "We offer you ready made humanitarian food. The coalition countries have collected food for you in the last few weeks. They will air-drop the food, which is packed individually, via aircraft. The prepared food is placed in yellow plastic. Please stay away from the area where food is being air-dropped in order not to be hurt. This food is a collective humanitarian assistance by coalition countries in order to relieve you from the shortages of food which have become a problem for your country. We are preparing the prepacked food for you in order to demonstrate that the coalition countries want to help you as friends."... An announcer in Pashto then repeated the above item. [Announcer in Dari] "In this hard and critical situation a friend has come to help you. This friend is called the coalition countries. We do not want you to suffer any more. The coalition countries have sent a large quantity of food to you. Please distribute food to those families that you are in charge of. The reason we are sending you the food is because we do not want you and your family to have any concern regarding access to food in this critical stage. We know that because of recent drought and unrest you have left your homes in order to find food. We have a commitment to lift this heavy burden from you shoulders." The announcement was then repeated in Pashto and a Dari announcer then repeated the advice to keep off roads and bridges. Source: Monitoring research 1645 gmt 14 Oct 01 and 0030 gmt 15 Oct 01 (via DXLD) Tune-in 1630 UT, Sunday 14th October, very strong signal on 8700 usb with talks in presumed Pashto and Afghan-type music. Lots of mentions of "Taleban" and "Afghanistan". Is this the allied response to Taleban propaganda? Off at 1730. Keep an eye on this frequency! (Tony Rogers Birmingham - UK AOR7030+/LW, BDXC-UK via DXLD) DX Information from the British DX Club (BDXC-UK). Further to Tony's log yesterday, I also heard this station today with good reception from tune-in around 1630 to rather abrupt close at 1730 UT. BBCM has confirmed it is on air at 0030-0530 and 1230-1730 on 8700 kHz usb with pro-US, anti Taleban programming in Dari/Pashto aimed at Afghanistan. There was a report about it on the PM programme on BBC R4 this evening with some actuality recorded at Caversham, and I understand there may also be an item on tonight's 10 pm news on BBC1 TV. No idea where this 8700usb transmission originates, but my guess is that it could be a feeder connected to the psyops Commando Solo broadcasts, rather than a transmission from one of the aircraft themselves (see Mike Terry's posting for further info on that). 73s (Dave Kenny, Oct 15, BDXC-UK via DXLD) Interesting piece, will be on until shortly after 1200 UT today at http://news.bbc.co.uk/ click on BBC One TV news and put the player 25 minutes into the news. The site also has a commentary from Nick Grace on the value of psyops at http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/uk/newsid_1600000/1600024.stm (Mike Barraclough, Oct 16, BDXC-UK via DXLD) Saw it; very good report lasting some 2:20; includes shot of a SW rx being tuned around 21755, probably disinformation (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) Hello Everyone, heard today, 15th Oct, 1630-1729:57 UT an UNID Dari? language stn, most likely anti-Taleban, thanks to a tip of Tony Rogers-UK. MODERN Afghan music and "band player bands" in AFG people ears, I guess. Never from AFG or PAK, most likely from TJK/UZB soil? Audio signal was far better than in MP3/WAV/.RM File format. [WB sent us an audio file, sure to be on WOR 1101 -gh] Frequency is near the R "Voice of Mojahed-1st program" frequencies, 150 kHz away from 8550 and 8850 kHz. Transmission closed down exact at 17.29:57 UT. And at 1805 UT heard on exact 8700 a typical Iranian bubble jammer, but only 30 seconds. vy 73s de wolfy df5sx (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I was waiting on 8700-USB, and a few seconds after 0030 UT Oct 16 heard this starting up with talk. Rather weak, and overshadowed by nearby SSB 2-way, inescapable on the ATS-909 bandwidth. 0032:30 into music. About all I could tell after that was music and talk alternated every few minutes. It was more in the clear a bit later, but also weaker (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Details of the radio station that is broadcasting over Afghanistan, prepared prior to the conflict, from http://www.geocities.com/Pentagon/1012/ec130.html [excerpts here; sounds familiar like we already ran it weeks ago --gh] As commanders come to understand the force multiplier effect psychological operations provides they find that they have a significant delivery means in the 193rd Special Operations Wing of Harrisburg, PA EC-130 Commando Solo, flying PSYOP platform. This aircraft is able to broadcast products developed by Army PSYOP units on AM and FM radio, and TV images over any frequency. Flying high over a battlefield or a troubled country, the six planes of the 193rd Special Operations Wing of the Pennsylvania Air National Guard do a job they say is unique in the world. Each of the C-130 cargo planes has been converted to flying radio and television stations, capable of preempting a country's normal programming and replacing it with whatever informational broadcast that is felt necessary to get the message through to the listening audience. "Electrons not bullets" is the motto of the 193rd Special Operations Wing of Harrisburg, PA which fly the EC-130s "Command Solo" flying PSYOP platforms. The 193rd usually receive their mission taskings from the state department, who have identified a "problem area" requiring the use of these specially equipped aircraft. The U.S. Army's 4th Psychological Operations Group (Airborne) at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, the only active duty component psychological operations unit is then tasked to develop and produce messages for broadcasts. These messages are then reviewed and approved by the State Department before delivery to the 193rd Special Operations Wing. If the decision is for the message to be broadcast live ( which is preferable to allow for adjustments/ modifications to the message based on late breaking news) rather than by tape message, a linguist from the 4th Psyop Group will accompany the 193rd to broadcast the message in the native tongue of the target audience. Once airborne, the mission control chief and five electronic communications systems operators occupy their search, medium and high frequency, very high frequency, and ultra-high frequency monitoring positions in the mission compartment. The compartment has cassette and reel-to-reel audio recorders, a video recorder, television monitors, receivers, noise modulators, transmitters and a live microphone. The mission control chief, together with the theater commander's planning staff, plans where the orbit areas will be set up to ensure the best reception signal to and from the target audience. Rather than try to overpower an existing signal, the crew of the EC-130 will normally broadcast on an open frequency. The search operator monitors radio and television frequencies to find one that is clear of other broadcasts and is within the range of the target. The operators then tune up transmitters inside the aircraft and corresponding antennae on the outside of the aircraft. Signals can be transmitted from either side of the aircraft, depending on the direction to the target. An electronics operator plays the message tape through a video or audio recorder to other operators who transmit the signal over the airway. The Specifications For This Specialized Aircraft Are: Primary Function: Psychological Operations Broadcasts Builder: Lockheed Power Plant: Four Allison T56-A-15 Turboprop Engines Thrust: 4,910 shaft horsepower per engine Length: 100 ft 6 in Height: 38 ft 6 in (11.7 meters) Wingspan: 132 ft 7 in (40.4 meters) Speed: 299 mph Ceiling: 20,000 ft Maximum Takeoff Weight: 155,000 lbs. Range: 2,100-plus miles Crew: Four officers (pilot, copilot, navigator, mission control chief/EWO); seven enlisted (flight engineer, loadmaster, five mission crew) Date Deployed: 1992 Unit Flyaway Cost: More than $70 million (via Mike Terry, BDXC-UK via DXLD) Afghanistan: Media behaviour roundup 15 October 2001 Balkh radio Radio Voice of Shari'ah of Balkh Province - the Taleban-controlled provincial radio station based in the northern city of Mazar-e Sharif - continues to be heard by BBC Monitoring. It was monitored on Sunday 14 October from 1230-1500 gmt and on Monday 15 October from 0230-0425 gmt. The evening broadcast on 15 October was also confirmed from sign-on at 1230 gmt. Balk radio carried the following commentary in Pashto at 1330 gmt on 14 October: "Esteemed and respected listeners: The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has time and again drawn the attention of the international community to the fact that under the pretext of bombing military bases, America would target principally the ordinary civilian people of Afghanistan and would use cruise missiles to destroy women, children and defenceless families. But the international community was deaf to these protests and thought that this was all part of propaganda against America in Afghanistan. But yesterday the US Defence Department itself announced that one of the [word indistinct] residential areas in Afghanistan was hit in error or due to a computer mistake, resulting in human casualties and material losses. America should also admit that all their savage attacks are directed against the Afghan people and this was no error or mistake. Now every brick, piece of wood, and tree of Afghanistan is a military target for America. These childish pretexts only convince those who rejoice about the attacks on Afghanistan and who think that these attacks could create a situation and conditions such as will serve for their own benefit. But America will carry their dream to the grave. The motto of Afghans is always this: independent and proud Afghanistan will live and will always be as long as there is one Afghan alive. Thus in future they will continue their struggle against the arrogant and powerful. The struggle of the Afghan people is not the work of one night. Now, when America has girded its loins for the destruction of our country and the merciless killing of our Muslim people, America should know that now they should prepare themselves for a long confrontation. Afghans are peace-loving people, they have never imposed war and fighting on anybody. But now infidel America wants once again to test it luck, like the British and the Soviet Union, in Afghanistan. Afghans are ready on the field of battle, armed with firm Afghan and Islamic determination to take revenge for their thousands of innocent children, women, and elderly who have been martyred by American cruise missiles. Success comes from God." Radio Pakistan's new broadcast to Afghanistan - "Sound of a Friend" A new broadcast by Radio Pakistan in Dari, targeted at listeners in Afghanistan, was launched on 12 October. The inaugural "Nawa-i-Dost" (Sound of a Friend) programme, broadcast from Radio Pakistan's Peshawar station, was monitored by BBC Monitoring on 540 kHz mediumwave; a shortwave frequency has also been announced. Radio Pakistan says that the Dari-language programme "will prove an important source of current affairs for listeners from far-flung areas of Afghanistan". The inaugural broadcast on 12 October contained the following items: [Male announcer in Dari] "This is Radio Pakistan, Peshawar. Nawa-e Dost [Sound of a Friend] for Dari and Pashto speaking listeners." [Female announcer] "Greetings to our dear listeners. Radio Pakistan broadcasts many programmes for the Afghan people, such as `Hindara' [Mirror], broadcast on Radio Peshawar, Pakistan, and `Awaz-e Dost' [Voice of Friend] broadcast by Radio Islamabad. Now, we happily broadcast another programme, Nawa-e Dost, for Afghan brothers and sisters." - Message in Pashto read out by Imtiaz Hussain Gilani, the education minister of Pakistan's North-West Frontier Province, on the start of the new broadcast from Radio Peshawar. - Message in Pashto read out by Qari Ruhullah, minister of religious affairs in provincial government of North-West Frontier Province. - Message by head of the Persian department of Peshawar University. - Song in Dari by a well-known Afghan singer. - Dialogue on education of Afghan refugee children living in Pakistan. - Song in Pashto by a well-known Afghan singer. - Commentary on the joint communique of the foreign ministers of the Organization of the Islamic Conference in Qatar. - Song. - Report on health care. - Report on donation of medicine by the government of Morocco to Afghan refugees in Pakistan. - Interview in Pashto with commissioner for Afghan refugees, Mohammad Naim, on preparations by his office to help Afghan refugees. - Song in Pashto. - End of transmission. Compiled by Foreign Media Unit, BBC Monitoring Telephone + 44 118 948 6261 e-mail: fmu@mon.bbc.co.uk Source: Monitoring research, 15 Oct 01 (via DXLD) More: http://www.angelfire.com/ok/worldofradio/afghreax.txt ** AFGHANISTAN. Watching a CNN report last night, there was a video of an alleged Taliban operations center in which I saw an ICOM ham type transceiver being operated on SSB. The displayed frequency was 13.405 MHz. 73 from (Bill Smith, W5USM, Shortwave Radio Since 1950, Oct 15, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL.- A Rádio Globo, do Rio de Janeiro, pode ser ouvida, nas ondas curtas, sòmente em horários de futebol. Em 6030 kHz, foi sintonizada, em Porto Alegre, em 13 de outubro, às 2050, com o jogo entre Vasco e Botafogo. Após a transmissão, o sinal da emissora desapareceu de forma abrupta. - A Rádio Aparecida transmitirá um programa "Encontro DX" especial no dia 3 de novembro próximo. Será em comemoração aos 15 anos do programa. Confira em 5035, 6135, 9630 e 11855 kHz. [quando?] - A Rádio Difusora de Roraima, que emite em 4875 kHz, também está na Internet. A emissora anuncia a todo momento o seu site. Acesse: http://www.radiororaima.com.br (Célio Romais, Brazil, Oct 15, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. Press Release - October 15, 2001 The Ontario DX Association is the QSL manager for the following stations: CFRB - 1010 kHz & CFRX - 6.070 MHz - QSL Manager - Steve Canney CHWO - 740 kHz QSL Manager - Brian Smith Both stations and transmitters are located at Toronto, Ontario, Canada. We welcome reception reports for all over the world and now there is a new way to send in your reports. Visit our web site at http://www.odxa.on.ca and under "Station Guide" you will find an "Online Report" for both CFRB / CFRX and CHWO. Just click the site and fill in the information boxes and press submit. That's it (Brian Smith, ODXA via DXLD) ** COSTA RICA [non]. Taiwan has now again moved from 15050 back to 15060 kHz at 9-17 UT. 73, (Erik Køie, Copenhagen, Oct 15, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA [and non]. LAS MISTERIOSAS TRANSMISIONES DE NUMEROS: CONTACTO CON ESPIAS. La revelación del FBI de que una cubanoamericana funcionaria de inteligencia del Pentágono y acusada de espiar para Cuba recibia instrucciones a través de una emisora casera de onda corta, ha vuelto a poner la atención en las llamadas "transmisiones de números" Desde hace unos 40 años, expertos en comunicaciones han informado sobre las emisiones de voz de largas series de números, en varios idiomas que se reciben en onda corta con relativa facilidad y gran potencia. La onda corta es una porción radiofónica distinta de AM y FM, que se utiliza para transmisiones internacionales (VoA, BBC, RFI), asi como por radioaficionados y otras comunicaciones. A pesar de que la onda corta está ya muy superada por satélites, Internet y fibras ópticas, todavia es un medio sencillo y barato para transmitir señales a distancias intercontinentales. El FBI encontró una de estas radios en la casa de Washington de Ana Belén Montes, la funcionara de Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) de Estados Unidos, detenida y acusada de espiar para Cuba. Con el aparato -según el FBI- Montes recibía "transmisiones de numeros" desde Cuba, algo que también hacian otros cubanos espias detenídos en Miami en 1998 (la llamada "Red Avispa"), con los que no se sabe si ésta tenía relación. LOS MENSAJES: "Atención. 287-54. Grupo 29. 54343, 34284, 77613...." Este es el inicio de una de estas transmisiones de números procedentes, quizás, de Cuba. Parece que los primeros dos o tres números de cada grupo de cinco digitos de los mensajes representan las páginas de un libro y los dos o tres últimos sus renglones. Con ellos se componen palabras, según expertos. Lo que el receptor y el transmisor tienen en común es el libro, que puede ser cualquiera, desde "Don Quijote de la Mancha" a una guía de teléfonos y un manual especialmente preparado que poseen ambas partes y se emplea además un método criptografía que permite decodificar el mensaje. Por tanto, los mensajes, aunque sean escuchados, son imposibles de descifrar ya que se emplea la llamada "libreta de un sólo uso" y la clave o el libro se cambia para cada mensaje. El nuevo código se incluye como parte del último mensaje. Los "agentes de campo" reciben las transmisiones desde el país correspondiente empleando un receptor de onda corta común que no despierta sospechas y que posee múltiples e inocentes usos. Las transmisiones no están pensadas para ser respondidas. Hugh Stegman, editor de la revista de onda corta "Monitoring Times", dijo que las transmisiones de números por onda corta comenzaron a ser escuchadas en todo el Mundo poco después de las crisis de los misiles de Cuba en 1962, en distintos idiomas y se asumió que estaban destinadas a espías. Fuentes radioaficionadas lograron "triangular" estas transmisiones y detectaron que procedian de Cuba (en la costa Norte de la Playa de Guanabo, a unos pocos kilómetros de la capital, Ciudad de la Habana), la ex-Unión Soviética, la desaparecida Alemania Oriental, asi como Inglaterra, Israel y áreas al Norte de Virginia, en Estados Unidos. Esto indica, que el sistema era utilizado por servicios de inteligencias de distintos paises incluyendo la CIA, el MI6, el Mossad, la Staasi, la KGB y la DGI cubana (Dirección General de Inteligencia). El semanario "New Times" de Miami dijo que el FBI decodificó mensajes cubanos de "transmisiones de números" entre 1995 y 1998, luego que penetró subrepticiamente en las casas de los agentes y copiaron cuadernos con el código. Entre los mensajes figuraban algunos como: "Prioricen y continúen amistad con Joe y Dennis" (personal de una base aérea) o "Inicien infiltración de personal" (supuestamente en los equipos de los los lesgiladores Lincoln Diaz-Balart e Ileana Ros-Lehtinen. Otro mensaje indicaba: "Bajo ninguna circunstancia (agentes) Germán y Castor deben volar con Hermanos al Rescate u otra organización en dias 24, 25, 26 y 27 (de Febrero de 1996). El 24 de Febrero de 1996, Cuba derribó dos avionetas de ese grupo en Aguas Internacionales, según quedó demostrado en la investigaciones realizadas. Pero no todo es tan serio. Uno de los mensajes captados era, claramente, una galantería y, con números decía así: "Un saludo a todas las camaradas en el Dia Internacional de la Mujer". NOTA: Información obtenída de una publicación local de Miami. Cordiales 73's (Oscar, Oct 15, DXLD) ** CZECH REPUBLIC. Czech president admits Radio Free Europe could move from downtown Prague | Excerpt from report in English by Czech news agency CTK Prague, 15 October: President Vaclav Havel admitted, in an interview with today's issue of Mlada fronta Dnes, that the Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) seat could be moved out of the centre of Prague. Only a few days ago, Havel called the idea absurd. "This is a matter to be evaluated by experts. However, I'm not absolutely opposed to the (RFE desk's) possible moving. Nevertheless, I was slightly surprised at hearing the (idea) for the first time," Havel told the daily. Some time ago Havel said that should the discussion on RFE's moving be earnest, it would also be necessary to consider moving, for example, the seat of the Czech parliament. "This was my first impression at learning the idea, but I don't stick to this at any price," Mlada fronta Dnes quotes Havel as saying. Czech politicians recently started to consider moving RFE/RL from downtown Prague due to a potential threat of terrorist attacks. RFE/RL, which also broadcasts to Islamic countries, could become a target of attacks, experts say... Source: CTK news agency, Prague, in English 0628 gmt 15 Oct 01 (via BBCM via DXLD) Sites earmarked for possible RFE relocation The Czech government said on Sunday [14 October] that it had earmarked a number of sites where Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty could continue broadcasting from in the event of a terrorist attack on its central Prague offices, the Czech news agency CTK reported. Prime Minister Milos Zeman said that the US government-funded radio station would only be moved if it were clear that a "terrorist attack cannot be averted". "If there were an attack on RFE, one could hardly predict all the consequences," Zeman was quoted as saying in a TV interview. "It would be therefore suitable, not a matter of cowardice, but of caution, to remove RFE to a place where it can be better guarded," he said. The RFE/RL compound has been protected by armoured personnel carriers since 27 September, the agency said. Source: CTK news agency, Prague, in English 1517 gmt 14 Oct 01 (via BBCM via DXLD) Security worries lead to speculation RFE may be moved | Text of report in English by Czech news agency CTK Prague, 15 October: Security was stepped up at the building - formerly the federal assembly - which houses Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) in the centre of Prague soon after the September 11 attacks on the US and there has been talk since then of the station being moved to a different location. While security at the station was tightened in the immediate aftermath of the US attacks, on September 27 it was tightened still further when armoured personnel carriers, soldiers and concrete barriers were placed around it. At the time Defence Minister Jaroslav Tvrdik said that, as part of security measures, the station could be moved to a different location. The station's spokeswoman Sonia Winter said however that the RFE/RL was not considering such a move. Interior Minister Stanislav Gross said a few days after the armoured personnel carriers were moved in that the step had been taken because of a real threat of a bomb attack on the building. Czech intelligence services had been informed of this by their counterparts in other countries, he said. Before Gross made his statement most Czech politicians expressed support for the move, though there were a few dissenting voices. The Communist Party (KSCM) called for the station to be moved to a guarded military facility. President Vaclav Havel said that the idea of moving RFE/RL was absurd. If it were moved to a field "then they should have moved the World Trade Centre to a field too, and maybe it would be good to move parliament there too," said Havel. In today's [15 October] issue of daily Mlada fronta Dnes Havel however changed his tune somewhat, saying that he thought the station could after all be moved. The day after the US and Britain began attacking Afghanistan, Premier Milos Zeman said in a BBC radio interview that the Czech government was ready to offer a different building to house RFE/RL if the US requested it. He refused to say however whether the Americans had made such a request. Deputy Premier Pavel Rychetsky said that the defence minister had already chosen some buildings which could be a more suitable home for the radio station than where it is now. Experts say it would be very difficult from the technical point of view to move the station. Furthermore, the move would have to be ratified by the US Congress. Czech Foreign Minister Jan Kavan and his US counterpart Colin Powell discussed the matter recently, but did not announce any decision. Kavan said last week that he had discussed the matter with several ministries and that several possible new locations had been suggested. The US ambassador to Prague, Craig Stapleton, said that the US had not as yet considered moving the station. Neither had it ruled it out, he added. Zeman said on Sunday [14 October] that the government had chosen a few possible sites for the station. This is not the first time the idea of moving RFE/RL has been raised. Three years ago when broadcasts to Iran and Iraq began Czech politicians were divided on the issue. Some feared the broadcasts could have a negative affect on the Czech economy, while others feared a terrorist attack. The government approved the broadcasts but it quashed the idea of a villa in Prague 6 being used to broadcast to Iran and Iraq. The broadcasts are in Persian and can also be heard in Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Source: CTK news agency, Prague, in English 1405 gmt 15 Oct 01 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** GERMANY. Here are the just distributed schedules for Deutsche Telekom`s own transmissions (i.e. other than Deutsche Welle) in a perhaps more convenient presentation. Note that for the first time the Nauen site is also involved in this business. The Wertachtal and Nauen outlets should be operated at 125 kW (with the exception of the FEBC transmission); Jülich transmitters are as well-known 100 kW. VRT (Radio Vlaanderen Internationaal): 0557-0756 13685 JUL 115 daily 0757-0826 5985 JUL ND daily 1827-1956 13710 JUL 115 daily 1857-2056 5910 JUL ND Sat RTBF: 0357-0559 9490 JUL 160 Mon-Fri 0527-0559 9490 JUL 160 Sat, Sun 0600-0812 17580 JUL 160 Mon-Fri 0600-0906 17580 JUL 160 Sun 0600-1059 17580 JUL 160 Sat 1057-1306 21565 JUL 160 Mon-Fri 1100-1217 21565 JUL 160 Sat 1157-1217 21565 JUL 160 Sun 1557-1816 17570 JUL 160 Sun-Fri 1657-1816 17570 JUL 160 Sat SRI: 0555-0800 9885 JUL 160 daily 0555-0800 13635 JUL 200 daily 1625-1815 9605 JUL 115 daily 1625-1815 13790 JUL 115 daily 1825-2130 9605 JUL 200 daily 1825-2130 15485 JUL 145 daily Standby arrangements for SRI (otherwise from Sottens): 0555-0800 17665 JUL 160 0825-1030 21770 JUL 160 1625-1815 15555 JUL 145 1825-2130 13660 JUL 160 2155-2400 9885 JUL 240 Hrvatska Radio: 0000-0159 9885 JUL 240 daily 0000-0159 9925 JUL 230 daily 0200-0359 9885 JUL 295 daily 0200-0359 9925 JUL 300 daily 0400-0559 9885 JUL 320 daily 0400-0559 9925 JUL 325 daily 0600-0759 9470 JUL 230 daily 0800-0959 13820 JUL 270 daily (So Hrvatska Radio will step into 9885 for the airtime to be vacated by SRI, exactly like they did with 6165 when Lenk was shut down for good. Quite ironical, isn't it? The 230 and 270 degree transmissions are meant for Australia and New Zealand, via long path of course, a Jülich speciality. -kl) Radio Ecclésia: 0500-0559 11795 JUL 160 daily [ex-15545 -gh] 1800-1900 13810 JUL 160 daily 1900-2130 13810 JUL 160 Sat SBO (Sagalee Bilisummaa Oromoo): 1700-1759 15715 NAU 145 Wed, Sat, Sun Tamil Broadcasting Corporation: 1230-1329 21590 JUL 90 daily Democratic Voice of Burma: 1455-1530 17805 JUL 70 daily 2330-0030 9430 JUL 80 daily Evangeliumsradio Hamburg 0958-1100 6045 JUL ND Sun 1830-1859 6015 WER ND Wed Universelles Leben, Würzburg ("Radio Santec") 0100-0129 9435 JUL 90 Sun (in English) 1600-1629 15530 JUL 160 Sun (in French) 1730-1759 6015 JUL ND Tue, Wed, Thu (in German) 1800-1829 11840 JUL 145 Sun (in English) United Methodist Church: 0400-0559 9535 JUL 160 daily 0400-0559 11775 JUL 145 daily 1700-1859 11735 JUL 160 daily 1700-1859 13820 JUL 145 daily Christian Science (programme in German): 1000-1059 5985 JUL 115 Sun Trans World Radio: 1130-1200 7340 JUL 105 Sat 1327-1345 5945 JUL 130 daily 1657-1745 5960 JUL 115 Sat 1657-1745 7315 NAU 110 Sat Adventist World Radio: 0500-0600 9885 JUL 115 daily 0600-0730 11905 JUL 200 daily 1000-1100 15195 JUL 145 Sat, Sun 1730-1759 5840 JUL 115 daily 1800-1859 12015 JUL 115 daily 1900-2030 11845 JUL 200 daily High Adventure Ministries ("Voice of Hope" / "Voice of the Lord"): 0700-0900 5975 JUL 290 daily 0700-1200 21590 JUL 115 daily 1200-1559 15715 JUL 115 daily 1330-1430 15675 JUL 70 daily 1330-1535 15775 JUL 90 daily 1600-1659 15715 JUL 130 daily 1700-1900 9815 JUL 80 daily 1700-2000 9405 JUL 120 daily Family Radio: 1600-1800 13855 JUL 145 daily (antenna switch at 1700) 1700-1900 9495 JUL 60 daily 1800-2100 13855 JUL 160 daily 1900-2000 11925 JUL 115 daily The Overcomer Ministries ("Brother Stair") 1325-1725 6110 JUL 290 daily 1400-1559 13810 JUL 115 daily IBRA-Radio: 2230-2330 9405 JUL 175 daily Radio Reveil Paroles de Vie: 1830-1859 11840 JUL 145 Thu FEBC: 1800-1829 11720 WER 115 Thu, Fri (250 kW) Lietuvos Radijas (Radio Vilnius): 0000-0100 6120 JUL 295 daily (I guess this is actually once again a standby arrangement only. -kl) Digital Radio Mondiale: 0900-1500 5975 JUL 60 daily (but certainly in fact only occasionally in use -kl) Frequencies without specified customer (not necessarily existing transmissions): 0700-0759 21550 JUL 145 Sun 0900-0959 6180 JUL ND Sat 1500-1559 5925 JUL ND Sat 1600-1659 15670 NAU 145 Thu, Sun 1630-1659 15530 NAU 140 Tue, Fri 1700-1759 15670 NAU 140 Mon, Thu 1830-1929 11840 JUL 145 Wed 1900-1959 11840 JUL 145 Fri (via Kai Ludwig, Germany, Oct 15, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GREECE. When tuning around this evening from my home, I heard plenty of Greek pirates between 1600-1700+ kHz, all on just 12m of wire. One of them was on 1687.53 kHz playing Greek and disco music. The only thing which I could make out was 'Thessaloniki'. Nevertheless almost 1800km! and SINPO 34444. These guys must use quite high power, but does not seem to realize that their signals carry much further then Greece. Maybe someone should ask them to give theire station name or (better!) post address regularly in English. Several of our pirates from Holland used to do this. This would make life easier, hihi. These guys may even cause trouble in transatlantic reception in X-band in winter I'm afraid. Our Dutch guys mostly stay below 1650, but the Greek stations don't. Have fun (Dick Knaap, Holland, Oct 15, bdxc via DXLD) ** GUAM. Full data QSLs without signature received from KTWR in approximately 180 days for two March 2001 reports. One is a postcard with KTWR site at sunset, the other a beautiful photo of Pago Bay with full data QSL sticker (without signature) on the back. Reports were mailed to P.O. Box CC Agat, Guam but the return address on the envelope was: Trans World Radio, Inc, P.O. Box 390, Box Hill, B.C. 3128 Victoria, Australia. The Guam address on the card was also blackened out and a sticker affixed to the card had the same Australia address. I just found a VERY nice personal, handwritten note signed by "Martha Hollis" inside the envelope with my QSL cards from KTWR. Apologizes for the QSL delay, and explains "the mail department recently moved from Guam to Melbourne and we are still getting organized and settled". (Lee Silvi, Mentor, Ohio USA, Oct 15, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDONESIA. On Sunday I heard some interesting stuff out of Asia. Voice of Indonesia, with English at 2000 on 15150, heard for the first time by me on Oct. 14 with a fair to good signal, news at tune in 2001, mostly domestic items; had commentary at 2013, then pop music at 2020. I`ve heard the domestic service on 15125 in our mornings here in the past, but now, since I've read about previous reception in the eastern USA, I now realize it's possible to get a signal from RRI in late afternoon, and it looks as if this is the time of year to give it a shot... (Joe Hanlon in Philadelphia, Oct 15, SWBC via DXLD) ** ISRAEL. Re unID in DXLD 1-147: Hi Vladimir, Thanks for your information. Yes, I heard it again yesterday and it was, as you say, exactly on 12145 kHz and the station is Kol Israel, Arabic service, // 5915 kHz. I copy this info to the HCDX-readers. 73 from (Björn Fransson, Sweden, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** KOREA SOUTH. Last night provided a good opportunity to hear RKI on 15575 at 0236 with Multiwave Feedback, and Bill Matthews' technical corner. I'm happy, though, that RKI will have a relay via RCI's Sackville site, starting Oct. 28, which will enable long-suffering listeners in this area to hear RKI programs with regular reception in the evening (Joe Hanlon in Philadelphia, Oct 15, SWBC via DXLD) Original distribution of DXLD 1-148 had a tiny but fatal typo in the audio link; make it http://www.kbs.co.kr/onair/L_RKI.asx (gh, DXLD) ** KUWAIT. Ex-Kuwaiti Official Assails His Nation for Weak Support of U.S. October 15, 2001 By JUDITH MILLER In a stunning denunciation, a former Kuwaiti government minister has scorned what he called his country's "hesitant and timid" support for America's war against terrorism.... [entire article:] http://www.nytimes.com/2001/10/15/international/middleeast/15KUWA.html?ex=1004170578&ei=1&en=2c12f3d4526c2698 (via John Figliozzi, NY, swprograms via DXLD) ** MYANMAR. I heard today (Oct. 15th) the Burmese Military station: Defence Forces BC on 6570 kHz around 1400 UT playing march music and old western pop songs like "Those Were the Days". Gradually fading out after 1430. It is station broadcasting regularly. Heard it only on few occasions. This reminds me about the Burma Broadcasting Station heard in the 70´s on 955 kHz MW. Those really were the days! 73´s (Jouko Huuskonen, Turku FINLAND, AOR 7030 Plus, ALA 1530P, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** OMAN. Radio Sultanate of Oman Coverage Maps for Nov and Dec 2001 Available. I have released a propagation forecast for the English language broadcasts of Radio Sultanate of Oman during the months of November and December 2001. Another set for the months of January, February and March will be available later. URL: http://www.uwasa.fi/~jpe/rso/ DISCLAIMER: This propagation forecast is my personal view only, based on a statistical assessment. No guarantees whatsoever for suitability for any purpose (Jari Perkiömäki, Vaasa, Finland, Hard-Core-DX mailing list Oct 15 via DXLD) Very good, shows 15140 reaching northeast America; but does not take into account HCJB also using 15140 when Oman does; perhaps you could do an additional mapping of that showing coverage areas of conflict? (gh, DXLD) ** PAKISTAN. A generally reliable source of information about current events in Pakistan and the South Asian region originating from that part of the world is the Pakistani English language daily newspaper "The Dawn", which has an Internet edition at http://www.dawn.com (John A. Figliozzi, swprograms Oct 14 via DXLD) 1054 UT Oct 15: Radio Pakistan's newscast led with a report that US warplanes had carried out their heaviest daytime raids yet and had hit Kabul, Kandahar, Jalalabad and other cities. No confirmed reports of damage or casualties, but a large cloud of dust was seen just outside the city center after one of the raids on Kabul and unconfirmed reports said that the airport in Kandahar was targeted. The Taliban were reported to have used heavier anti-aircraft equipment against the warplanes. The Taliban claimed that 12 people were killed in unspecified residential areas. The UNHCR says it is worried about a refugee crisis turning into a humanitarian disaster on the scale of that in the mid '80s. Israel has withdrawn from Palestinian areas it occupied two weeks ago. A Hamas leader was killed by a car bomb in Nablus. Brunei and Pakistan have concluded a comprehensive economic agreement on joint cooperation in petroleum industry development. Radio Pakistan will broadcast a live press briefing later in the day. [Interesting that there was no mention of Powell's impending visit to Pakistan, perhaps a reflection of security concerns. However, that last item might have been a hint.] Monitored (in near armchair quality this morning!) on 21465 kHz. [Personal comments and observations in brackets.] (--John A. Figliozzi, swprograms via DXLD) ** PAKISTAN. Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation Coverage Maps for Nov and Dec 2001 Available. I have released a propagation forecast for the English language broadcasts of Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation during the months of November and December 2001. Maps for the months of January, February and March will be available later. November 2001: http://www.uwasa.fi/~jpe/pbc/nov01/ December 2001: http://www.uwasa.fi/~jpe/pbc/dec01/ DISCLAIMER: This propagation forecast is my personal view only, based on a statistical assessment. No guarantees whatsoever for suitability for any purpose. 73 (Jari Perkiömäki, Vaasa, Finland, hard-core-dx via DXLD) Concerns the 0045-0115, 0800-1104 and 1600-1615 UT broadcasts only as far as the Asian, European and African target areas (gh, DXLD) ** QATAR. In today's Christian Science Monitor on-line there is another interesting article about what is fast becoming the most famous TV station in the world, Al Jazeera. It can be accessed at: http://www.csmonitor.com/2001/1015/p1s3-wosc.html There are links to other stories at the bottom of the article (Fred Waterer, Ont., Oct 15, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SPAIN. A Rádio Exterior de Espanha transmite um excelente programa sobre o mundo do rádio. É o "Amigos de la Onda Corta", que vai ao ar, aos sábados, às 0100 UT [domingos universais! -gh], em 9540, 9620, 11815, 11945 e 15160 kHz. A apresentação é de Ángel Rodríguez (Célio Romais, Brazil, Oct 15, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U A E. Checked English broadcast Oct 15 at 1334 going from perfunctory news headlines to current feature about Islamic arts and crafts, seemingly less contentious than the previous never-ending series ``Zionism Unmasked``. 21605 had extremely distorted audio: the motorboating transmitter is in very bad shape; not audible on 13630 blocked by Martí and Cuban commie jamming; 13675 and 15395 also inaudible. Exact wording of the ID was ``United Arab Emirates Radio from Dubai`` so there really has not been any change. Rechecked at 1603 when the feature comes first: same bad news on 21605, but \\ audible on 15395, 13675 with much weaker signals but better audio; 13630 still blocked (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K [non]. Excerpts of the Merlin B-01 schedule for BBC WS, in addition to those in previous DXLD; e.g. BBC ENGLISH not included here: Note that 17840 no longer appears at all in BBC upcoming schedules. Both it and 15220 from Antigua are being replaced by 15190 all the way from 1100 to 1700! All BBC WS English via Antigua for B-01, much of it useful in NAm: 5975 0400 0500 smtwtfs Antigua 125 235 ENGLISH S AM 5975 0400 0500 smtwtfs Antigua 125 290 ENGLISH CARIB 5975 2100 2115 smtwtfs Antigua 250 160 ENGLISH CARIB 5975 2115 2130 s.....s Antigua 250 160 ENGLISH CARIB 5975 2115 2130 .mtwtf. Antigua 250 160 ENGLISH CARIB 5975 2130 0400 smtwtfs Antigua 250 160 ENGLISH CARIB 6195 1000 1100 smtwtfs Antigua 250 160 ENGLISH CARIB 6195 1100 1130 s.....s Antigua 250 160 ENGLISH CARIB 6195 1100 1130 .mtwtf. Antigua 250 160 ENGLISH CARIB 6195 1130 1200 smtwtfs Antigua 250 160 ENGLISH CARIB 6195 1200 1220 s.....s Antigua 250 160 ENGLISH CARIB 6195 1200 1220 .mtwtf. Antigua 250 160 ENGLISH CARIB 6195 1220 1400 smtwtfs Antigua 250 160 ENGLISH CARIB 11675 2115 2130 .mtwtf. Antigua 125 235 ENGLISH CARIB 11675 2115 2130 .mtwtf. Antigua 125 300 ENGLISH CARIB 15190 1100 1400 s.....s Antigua 125 205 ENGLISH S AM 15190 1100 1130 .mtwtf. Antigua 125 205 ENGLISH CARIB 15190 1100 1400 s.....s Antigua 125 300 ENGLISH CARIB 15190 1100 1130 .mtwtf. Antigua 125 300 ENGLISH CARIB 15190 1130 1200 .mtwtf. Antigua 125 205 ENGLISH S AM 15190 1130 1200 .mtwtf. Antigua 125 300 ENGLISH CARIB 15190 1200 1220 .mtwtf. Antigua 125 205 ENGLISH CARIB 15190 1200 1220 .mtwtf. Antigua 125 300 ENGLISH CARIB 15190 1220 1400 .mtwtf. Antigua 125 205 ENGLISH S AM 15190 1220 1400 .mtwtf. Antigua 125 300 ENGLISH CARIB 15190 1400 1700 smtwtfs Antigua 125 205 ENGLISH S AM 15190 1400 1700 smtwtfs Antigua 125 300 ENGLISH CARIB All BBC WS English via Ascension for B-01, some of it useful in NAm: 6005 0300 0400 smtwtfs Ascension 250 102 ENGLISH S AF 6005 0400 0705 smtwtfs Ascension 250 27 ENGLISH W AF 6005 0705 0720 smtwtfs Ascension 250 27 BBC ENGLISH W AF 7160 0300 0700 smtwtfs Ascension 250 65 ENGLISH W C AF 11765 0700 0800 smtwtfs Ascension 250 27 ENGLISH W AF 12095 0200 0300 smtwtfs Ascension 250 245 ENGLISH S AM 12095 2100 0200 smtwtfs Ascension 250 245 ENGLISH S AM 15190 0900 1000 smtwtfs Ascension 250 235 ENGLISH S AM 15190 1000 1100 s.....s Ascension 250 235 ENGLISH S AM 15220 1100 1130 .mtwtf. Ascension 250 235 SPANISH S AM 15400 0700 1000 smtwtfs Ascension 250 27 ENGLISH W AF 15400 1000 1100 s.....s Ascension 250 27 ENGLISH W AF 15400 1100 1130 smtwtfs Ascension 250 27 ENGLISH W AF 15400 1500 2000 smtwtfs Ascension 250 27 ENGLISH W AF 15400 1900 2000 smtwtfs Meyerton 500 350 ENGLISH W AF OVERLAP 15400 2000 2300 smtwtfs Ascension 250 27 ENGLISH W AF 15400 2000 2100 smtwtfs Ascension 250 102 ENGLISH S AF 17790 1100 1130 smtwtfs Ascension 250 245 ENGLISH S AM 17830 0800 1000 smtwtfs Ascension 250 65 ENGLISH W C AF 17830 1000 1100 s.....s Ascension 250 65 ENGLISH W C AF 17830 1100 2100 smtwtfs Ascension 250 65 ENGLISH W C AF 21470 1300 1900 smtwtfs Ascension 250 114 ENGLISH S AF Only usage of Greenville by BBCWS in English for B-01 is alternative: 15190 2115 2130 .mtwtf. Greenville 250 174 ENGLISH CARIB COMPLETE BBCWS B-01 usage of favorite frequencies: 9410 0000 0200 smtwtfs Cyprus 250 101 ENGLISH SW AS 9410 0200 0300 smtwtfs Cyprus 250 117 ENGLISH ME 9410 0300 0400 smtwtfs Cyprus 250 7 ENGLISH RUSS 9410 0400 0600 smtwtfs Woofferton 250 70 ENGLISH RUSS 9410 0400 0600 smtwtfs Cyprus 250 328 ENGLISH EUR 9410 0600 0700 smtwtfs Cyprus 250 295 ENGLISH W EUR 9410 0700 0900 smtwtfs Skelton 300 180 ENGLISH W EUR 9410 0900 1000 s...... Cyprus 250 7 TURKISH SE EUR 9410 1115 1130 .mtwt.. Cyprus 250 325 BBC ENGLISH SE EUR 9410 1500 1600 smtwtfs Woofferton 300 140 ENGLISH EUR 9410 1600 1700 smtwtfs Cyprus 250 295 ENGLISH W EUR 9410 1700 2000 smtwtfs Cyprus 250 328 ENGLISH EUR 9410 2000 2200 smtwtfs Cyprus 250 295 ENGLISH W EUR 9915 0000 0300 smtwtfs Skelton 300 230 ENGLISH S AM [9915 also used extensively at other times in other languages] 12095 0200 0300 smtwtfs Ascension 250 245 ENGLISH S AM 12095 0300 0500 smtwtfs Cyprus 250 101 ENGLISH ME 12095 0600 0700 smtwtfs Cyprus 300 328 ENGLISH EUR 12095 0700 1600 smtwtfs Woofferton 250 140 ENGLISH EUR 12095 1500 1600 smtwtfs Woofferton 300 78 ENGLISH RUSS 12095 1600 1700 smtwtfs Woofferton 300 78 ENGLISH RUSS 12095 1600 1700 smtwtfs Woofferton 250 140 ENGLISH EUR ME 12095 2100 0200 smtwtfs Ascension 250 245 ENGLISH S AM (Extracted and arranged by Glenn Hauser for DX LISTENING DIGEST from schedules via A. Volk, Germany, ADDX Oct 4 via Wolfgang Büschel) ** U S A. There will be a program on WAMU about Internet Radio, Tuesday afternoon, Oct. 16th, at 1 pm Eastern. It will be on the Public Interest program with Kojo Nnamdi. You can also hear the archived Real Audio file later in the day. The url is http://www.wamu.org/pi/index.html (Tom McNiff, Burke, Virginia, USA, Oct 15, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Ted Chittenden alerted me to a recent format change at the public radio station at Central Missouri State University in Warrensburg, MO. They've flipped from news/jazz KCMW to news/AAA KTBG, "The Bridge." The major NPR programs remain at drive times and on the weekend, but the midday and evening music blocks change from jazz to adult alternative. KCMW's website has a farewell message stating "Our Jazz audience simply isn't large enough to qualify for the funding that we need to survive." There's a new site for KTBG at ktbg.fm. Online audio is available as before (Kevin Kelly, Arlington, Mass., PublicRadioFan.com Oct 15, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A [clandestine]. Here is more detailed information on the incident last night. Some good news: there was not an officer killed in the incident. At 8:15 p.m., Deputy Greg Elder of the Bell County, Ky., Sheriffs Department stopped Steve Anderson for a traffic violation (he had no tail lights). Anderson was uncooperative and eventually challenged Elder with a rifle, and fired on him as he retreated to the back of his cruiser. During a pursuit, Anderson kept firing at Elder. A Pineville Police Department officer picked up the chase and was also fired at. Anderson worked his way up Sam's Mountain in Bell County, where officers gave up the chase to wait for backup. Evidently, that area of Bell County is full of logging roads. At about 5:30 a.m., they found Anderson's truck down an embankment. It looked as if the vehicle had been wrecked, but there was no sign of any injury to Anderson. They discovered two pipe bombs and several other weapons in the truck. There also was an empty holster, so they believe Anderson to be armed. The Middlesboro newspaper said a subdivision off Sam's Mountain road has been evacuated. A warrant for Anderson's arrest for two counts of criminal attempt to commit murder has been issued with bond already set at $1 million. Locally, ATF, FBI and local law enforcement has Anderson's farm surrounded, but there's no indication that they believe he's in Pulaski County at this time. (Jeff Neal, editor of the Somerset KY Commonwealth Journal via Tim Hendel, AL, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I was waiting on 6900 at 0000 UT Oct 16, but only some occasional nearby SSB could be heard (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Apparently Steve Anderson of United Patriot Radio has fired on a sheriff's deputy when she tried to pull him over. He is now apparently hiding out somewhere in the woods in Kentucky. http://www.msnbc.com/local/WLEX/M103729.asp I guess this probably spells the end for UPR. It is not on the air tonight (15 Oct 01 @ 0056 UT). (Tom Sevart, KS, ACE Pirate via DXLD) Brief story but includes a mugshot of Anderson (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. NOTE: Because we have nothing but contempt for Rush Limbaugh, you may have noticed that we have not considered his alleged deafness of any importance and not mentioned it whatsoever. However, as we wrap this edition of DXLD we have just received this original commentary (and don`t feel either like going through to insert all the capital letters) (gh) dear glenn, it has been quite some time since i`ve contributed to your program, but the recent news concerning rush limbaugh has taken me to type an electronic missive to you. i'm fascinated by what has transpired over the past week or so, not by the illness/condition that mr limbaugh has contracted, which is and would be unfortunate without regard to the person so afflicted, but rather with the business aspect of the whole matter, particularly the timing of the events as stated by rush. according to limbaugh, the condition was discovered by him around the time of memorial day. to hear rush tell it, he woke up one morning and was totally deaf in the left ear and the hearing in his right ear was abnormal and started to deteriorate quickly. while i find it difficult to believe that his hearing could go from normal to nonexistent in that left ear literally overnight, what i find so amazing about this whole series of events is that no one, particularly his liberal adversaries, has pointed out what happened next. that is, he signed a new nine year contract for upwards of a quarter of a billion dollars, in july of this year, which is at least six weeks AFTER he says that he discovered this ailment. i'm stunned for two reasons, first, that the network that was paying this monumental amount of money apparently did not require some sort of physical examination of limbaugh, but more importantly, that mr. limbaugh, the high and mighty self appointed reviewer of ethics and morality apparently did not think it important that he disclose his physical condition before signing this contract. we both know that such a physical findings could well make him unable to fulfill his part of the contract and that his failure to disclose such an important matter could constitute, well.... fraud. obviously, the network has egg all over its face. they can't threaten anything publicly, because they must be hoping beyond hope that rush limbaugh will indeed, as it is being promised, be able to continue to do his show in the same manner as he has for these past years, and will be able to continue to do so, and to attract the same arbitron ratings as always. they certainly don't want to threaten any legal action at this point, because to do so might in part contribute to any problems with ratings etc that the show might have in the near future. they also don't want to dwell on this, because anyone who asks too many questions about the negotiations might begin to realize that the network didn't do it's homework and spent a fortune without even discovering what a routine physical examination of rush would have disclosed. so, the problem for them is twofold: they don't want to look like chumps and they don't want to do what could be perceived as undermining his show. for rush, he has to downplay this whole thing because he wants his show to continue to be as successful as it has been, and because to be forthcoming at this point might show that he was deliberately and purposefully withholding vital information from the network. someone less kind than myself might suggest that he was perpetrating a fraud. the story about the day he signed his contract would be hilarious, were it not such a serious matter. a story was given by the president of the network that no one over the age of twelve could possibly take seriously. it was said that before the contract was signed, rush at showed up wearing a hearing aid, and, when asked about it, shrugged it off by saying that his father and grandfather had developed hearing problems and that it wasn't any big deal. can anyone possibly believe that the network would sign such a deal after seeing limbaugh wearing a hearing aid and not requested that he be examined by a doctor selected by the network?. why is it i have a feeling that if limbaugh's ratings decline, or he becomes unable to perform according to the terms of the contract that the REAL story, or at least the real story with two very different versions to it will become circulated in the media. stay tuned. the story from here on in could be at least as interesting as any show limbaugh has ever broadcast. very truly yours, (don thornton, Oct 15, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. U.S. Message Lost Overseas Officials See Immediate Need for 'Public Diplomacy' By Robert G. Kaiser, Washington Post Staff Writer Monday, October 15, 2001; Page A01 For weeks, the Washington bureau of al-Jazeera, a satellite TV news network, pleaded with the State Department for interviews to give Arab viewers the American perspective on the new war on terrorism. Secretary of State Colin L. Powell appeared for an interview on Sept. 23, but mostly "I was begging them" in vain, said Hafez Al-Mirazi, the bureau chief. Late last week, policy changed.... [also goes into VOA and USIA; full story:] http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A59440-2001Oct14.html (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** U S A. October 14, 2001 -- VOA led astray? By Kenneth Y. Tomlinson Nearly 20 years ago when I was director of the Voice of America, I was confronted with a dispute between the head of VOA news and a USIA policy officer over the word we should use to describe the ruling entity of what had been South Vietnam. VOA news routinely referred to the Vietnamese "government." State Department officials had ruled it should be called a "regime." ... Full commentary: http://www.washtimes.com/commentary/20011014-66130250.htm (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** U S A [non]. VOA`s planned expanded Arabic service will include FM transmitters in Jordan, just authorized by the king, and the Cyprus (MW) project will also go forward, critical for Egypt, Lebanon and other areas (Mark Nathanson, chairman of the US BBG, VOA Communications World Oct 13, notes by gh for DXLD) ** UZBEKISTAN. Dear Glen[n], Re DXLD-1148 and 1143, I can tell you that Radio Tashkent's English programs at 1200 and 1330 UT now are heard here on 9715 kHz (in // with e.g. 5060 which is not heard here). 73, (Erik Køie, Copenhagen, Oct 15, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ###