Contrary to earlier concerns of State Department officials, Radio Liberty-Radio Free Europe will begin broadcasting in the Avar language on 3 April. The Avars are the largest of Dagestan’s 34 ethnolinguistic groups. Their size lends them political clout, and inevitably piques suspicion and resentment from Dagestan’s other groups. The latter will be increased by Avar language RL-RFE broadcasts.
The Avars, however, will be no less suspicious and resentful. Since Radio Liberty is also broadcasting in the Chechen language, the policy connects Avars and Chechens. Since most Avars view Chechens as traitors they will be embarrassed by the connection, and will resent RL-RFE, which they will further connect with its Washington sponsors.
Some Dagestanis have claimed that the United States has sponsored Chechen militants in order to destabilize the Caucasus and undercut Moscow’s influence in the region. Since the Chechen militants have brought misery to the region they are widely condemned and mistrusted, and rumors of their American support have contributed to the growth of anti-American sentiments. Local language Radio Liberty broadcasts will appear to many in the region as confirming those rumors. Their apparent confirmation will be interpreted as yet another attack by the United States upon Muslim people, in line with the Dagestani view of American policies in Afghanistan and the Middle East.
Few in the Caucasus will listen to local language RL-RFE broadcasts, but many will have heard about them, and will understand them as confirming the worst that they have heard about the United States.
These patently destabilizing influences will be introduced at the same time that the United States is introducing troops into the region for the stated purpose of stabilization. The evident contradiction of these policies will tend to undermine all of their objectives, and will further endanger American lives. The net result will be an increase in regional instability and suffering, and future problems for the United States.
This misguided program appears to have more to do with domestic American politics than with either consistent foreign policy or the well being of people in the region.