MONTHLY REPORT--GULF BUREAU--AUGUST 1985

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP86-00040R000300520004-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 10
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 9, 2010
• Sequence Number: 4
• Publication Date: September 1, 1985
• Content Type: MEMO

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1 September 1985
MEMORANDUM FOR : Director, Foreign Broadcast Information Service
THROUGH Chief, Operations Group
SUBJECT : Monthly Report--Gulf Bureau--August 1985
This summer's rotation season brought a 60% turnover in staff
positions at Gulf Bureau, most of it in August. By the end
of the month, a new editor, a new engineer, and a new bureau
chief were all in p new duties.
Two senior editors, carried over
to provide a very useful degree o continuity, with 0 moving
up earlier this summer to the position of deputy chief.
The IBM-PC training program vot under way at the end of the
month with the arrival of
A total of nine bureau personnel will be taking part in various
phases of the training program, which is scheduled to run until
12 September.
II. OPERATIONS
A. Editorial/Monitorial
1. Gulf Bureau provided a major backstop effort for BBC on 7
August during their industrial action, assuming coverage of
Tehran Domestic Service in Persian, and Kuwait Domestic Service
in Arabic and Kuwait KUNA in Arabic throughout Gulf's operating
hours. Special staffing was arranged to handle the added cove-
rage. Closure was extended by one hour to enable late night
Tehran and Riyadh casts to be covered.
2. In addition to assuming some of the BBC's coverage, 7 August
also proved to be a busy day due to the opening of the extra-
ordinary Arab summit conference in Casablanca, Morocco. Manama
and Riyadh Television Services linked up to carry live the
opening session of the summit. FYI's were sent and VSL prepared.
On 9 August Riyadh Television Service carried a recording of the
closing session, with FYI's and VSL again being sent.
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3. On 15 August Iraq claimed that it launched an air raid on
Iran's Khark Island and "destroyed" it. While Iran remained
"officially" silent on the claims, various Gulf sources confirmed
that an attack had indeed taken place and several oil installa-
tions were damaged. However, Tehran International Service in
Arabic, monitored by the bureau, did carry a report citing an
Iranian newspaper, the Tehran AL-'ARABI, which referred to the
"propaganda" of an attack on Khark but did not actually deny
such an attack took place. Gulf media viewed the attack as the
most significant event in the 5-year war between Iran and Iraq.
On 25 August, Iraq again claimed that it had struck Khark Island;
this time the claim met with swift denial by Iran's War Publicity
Headquarters in a statement monitored from Tehran Domestic Persian
on the morning of 26 August. On 30 August, Iraq claimed that its
planes had again attacked Khark in order to disrupt repair and
salvage work. The Tehran AL-'ARABI on 31 August referred to the
falsehood of the Iraqi claim, but did not deny an attack had
taken place.
4. Iran held its presidential election on 17 August with three
candidates vying for the post. Various reports from Tehran
radio updating the election results were filed. Incumbent
President Khamene'i was reelected with an overwhelming majority.
5. The annual pilgrimage to Mecca began this month with over
850,000 pilgrims arriving in Saudi Arabia from abroad. Saudi-
Iranian relations have been strained over the number of Iranian
pilgrims arriving to perform the Hajj, as well as by Iran's call
to politicize the pilgrimage. On 22 August a "massive" demons-
tration was held in Mecca following the reading of a message from
Ayatollah Khomeyni addressed to the Muslim pilgrims. Iranian
media claimed that several pilgrims were arrested by Saudi police,
but in general there were no serious problems.
6. Gulf Bureau assumed coverage of Moscow in Persian to Iran
from 3-24 August for Nicosia during their Persian monitor's
annual leave. Also, at PMU's request, Gulf assumed coverage
of two Arabic newspapers -- Jeddah 'UKAZ and Riyadh AL-RIYAD--
from 8-22 August during one of their monitor's annual leave.
7. Tehran Television Service in Persian has been received with
unusual regularity during the month of August. Twelve VSL's
were filed during the month (more than the total for the prece-
ding 6 months), including a Khomeyni appearance on 4 August,
and again on 27 August. Baghdad Television Service in Persian
was received on 26 August with fair/unmonitorable reception.
This was the first time since 5 June that reception of Baghdad
was good enough to prepare a VSL.
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B. Lateral Services
1. The American Embassy in Doha, Qatar requested that they be
added as a consumer for items on Gulf war developments, regional
terrorism, Iranian broadcasts aimed at Iranians resident in the
Gulf, and the Doha Domestic Service in Arabic commentary that
follows the 1330 GMT newscast. The request was relayed to
Liaison and Requirements Branch for inclusion of the consumer
in appropriate LSL entries.
III. ADMINISTRATION
Personnel
1. The following staff PCS arrivals and departures took place
during the month:
a. Arrivals: Junior editor) 3 August;
engineer and wife, August; bureau chief
and family, 18 August.
b. Departures: Electrons chnicia
19 August; acting bureau chief 27 August.
2. No o biection certificates were received for Arabic monitor
trainee on 1 September.
is being processed through Jordan Bureau to fill an existing
vacancy in Gulf's Arabic section.
IV. VISITS
To the Bureau
Newly arrived DCM Larry Pope, on 24 August, for a tour of the
facility, introduction to personnel, and briefing on operations.
chief, uui;t ureau
ATT: Monthly Production Report
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GULF BUREAU PRODUCTION REPORT FOR AUGUST 1985
I. TOTALS FROM ALL SOURCES:
TOTAL PUBLISHABLE WORDAGE FILED DURING MONTH : 273,810
TOTAL NON-PUBLISHABLE WORDAGE FILED DURING : 116,590
TOTAL NUMBER OF PUBLISHABLE ITEMS FILED DURING MONTH 829
BROAD PRESS PUBLI-
CASTS AGENCIES CATIONS
II. INPUT OF REGULAR COVERAGE: 15,585 13,740 191.5
(FTri;;H ISSUES- 'WEEK )
KABUL INTERNATIONAL SERVICE
IN ARABIC
KABUL IN ENGLISH TO
SOUTH ASIA
MANAMA DOMESTIC SERVICE IN
ARABIC -0-
MANAMA TELEVISION SERVICE
IN ARABIC -0-
MANAMA WAKH IN
ARABIC 15,320
MANAMA WAKH IN
ENGLISH 9,630
MANAMA AKHBAR AL-KHALIJ
IN ARABIC -0-
MANAMA AL-ADWA' IN
ARABIC -0-
MANAMA AL-MAWAQIF
IN ARABIC -0-
MANAMA SADA AL-USBU'
IN ARABIC -0-
MANAMA GULF DAILY NEWS
IN ENGLISH 2,710
MANAMA GULF MIRROR IN
ENGLISH 770
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(CLANDESTINE) VOICE OF ISLAMIC
REVOLUTION OF AFGHANISTAN
IN DAR I
-0-
(CLANDESTINE) VOICE OF ISLAMIC
REVOLUTION OF AFGHANISTAN
IN PASHTO
-0-
(CLANDESTINE) VOICE OF AL-AHVAZ
REVOLUTION IN ARABIC
-0-
(CLANDESTINE) VOICE OF IRAQI
KURDISTAN IN BAHDINANI KURDISH
(CLANDESTINE) VOICE OF IRAQI
KURDISTAN IN SURANI KURDISH
(CLANDESTINE) VOICE OF IRAQI
-0-
-0-
REVOLUTION IN SURANI KURDISH
(CLANDESTINE) FREE VOICE OF IRAN
-0-
IN PERSIAN
5,010
(CLANDESTINE) VOICE OF MOJAHEDIN-E
KHALQ IN PERSIAN
-0-
(CLANDESTINE) RADIO NEJAT-E IRAN
IN PERSIAN
8,940
(CLANDESTINE) RADIO IRAN IN
PERSIAN
59980
TEHRAN
IN
INTERNATIONAL SERVICE
ARABIC
30,690
TEHRAN
IN
TELEVISION SERVICE
ARABIC
-0-
TEHRAN
IN
INTERNATIONAL SERVICE
RUSSIAN
-0-
TEHRAN
IN
INTERNATIONAL SERVICE
TURKISH
4,010
MASHHAD
IN
INTERNATIONAL SERVICE
DARI
160
TABRIZ
IN
INTERNATIONAL SERVICE
AZERI
1,240
TEHRAN
IN
DOMESTIC SERVICE
PERSIAN
29,530
TEHRAN
IN
DOMESTIC SERVICE
SURANI KURDISH
-0-
TEHRAN
IN
DOMESTIC SERVICE
BAHDINANI KURDISH
-0-
TEHRAN
IN
TELEVISION SERVICE
PERSIAN
1,980
TEHRAN
IN
TELEVISION SERVICE
ENGLISH
-0-
AHVAZ DOMESTIC SERVICE
IN
PERSIAN
3,890
BANDAR
IN
'ABBAS DOMESTIC SERVICE
PERSIAN
-0-
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BUSHEHR
IN
DOMESTIC
PERSIAN
SERVICE
860
ESFAHAN
IN
DOMESTIC
PERSIAN
SERVICE
-0-
MASHHAD
IN
DOMESTIC
PERSIAN
SERVICE
-0-
SHIRAZ
IN
DOMESTIC
PERSIAN
SERVICE
-0-
TABRIZ
IN
DOMESTIC
ARMENIAN
SERVICE
110
TABRIZ
IN
DOMESTIC
AZERI
SERVICE
-0-
ZAHEDAN
IN
DOMESTIC
PERSIAN
SERVICE
-0-
TEHRAN
IRNA IN
ARABIC
TEHRAN AL-SHAHID
IN ARABIC
TEHRAN KEYHAN AL-'ARABI
IN ARABIC
TEHRAN KAYHAN INTERNATIONAL
IN ENGLISH
TEHRAN TEHRAN TIMES IN
ENGLISH
TEHRAN ETTELA'AT IN
PERSIAN
TEHRAN JOMHURI-YE ESLAMI
IN PERSIAN
TEHRAN KEYHAN IN
PERSIAN
TEHRAN KEYHAN HAVA'I
IN PERSIAN
BAGHDAD TELEVISION SERVICE
IN PERSIAN -0-
BAGHDAD DOMESTIC SERVICE
IN ARABIC 370
BAGHDAD DOMESTIC SERVICE
IN SURANI KURDISH -0-
BAGHDAD TELEVISION SERVICE
IN ARABIC 430
KUWAIT DOMESTIC SERVICE
IN ARABIC
KUWAIT TELEVISION SERVICE
IN ARABIC
KUWAIT KUNA IN
ARABIC
KUWAIT AL-ANBA'
IN ARABIC
1,200
210
-0-
-0-
-0-
-0-
-0-
-0-
-0-
3,730
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KUWAIT AL-HADAF IN
ARABIC
KUWAIT AL-QABAS
IN ARABIC
KUWAIT AL-RA'Y AL-'AMM
IN ARABIC
KUWAIT AL-SIYASAH IN
ARABIC
KUWAIT AL-WATAN
IN ARABIC
KUWAIT ARAB TIMES IN
ENGLISH
MUSCAT DOMESTIC SERVICE
IN ARABIC
SALALAH DOMESTIC SERVICE
IN ARABIC
MUSCAT 'UMAN IN
ARABIC
MUSCAT 'UMMAN AL-USBU'I
IN ARABIC
MUSCAT ONA IN
ARABIC
PAKISTAN
ISLAMABAD THE MUSLIM
IN ENGLISH
KARACHI DAWN
IN ENGLISH
KARACHI JASARAT IN
URDU
KARACHI MASHRIQ IN
URDU
KARACHI NAWA-E WAQT
IN URDU
LAHORE JANG IN
URDU
RAWALPINDI HAIDAR IN
URDU
RAWALPINDI PAKISTAN TIMES
IN ENGLISH
DOHA DOMESTIC SERVICE
IN ARABIC
DOHA TNLA4ICN SERVICE
DOHA AIC
ARABIC
3,020
1,070
0-
7,170
-0-
3,420
6,220
8,690
2,570
4,290
410
3,360
650
240
2,530
950
1 , 000
4,060
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SAUDI ARABIA
------------
JEDDAH DOMESTIC SERVICE
IN ARABIC 2,110
RIYADH DOMESTIC SERVICE
IN ARABIC 7,230
RIYADH TELEVISION SERVICE
IN ARABIC 2,230
RIYADH TELEVISION SERVICE
IN ENGLISH -0--
RIYADH SPA IN
ARABIC
AL-DAMMAM AL-YAWM IN
ARABIC
JEDDAH AL-MADINAH IN
ARABIC
RIYADH AL-RIYAD IN
ARABIC
OMDURMAN DOMESTIC SERVICE**
IN ARABIC _0_
KHARTOUM SUNA IN
ARABIC
UNION- OF- SOVIE'T'- SOCIALIST- REPUBLICS
MOSCOW IN PERSIAN TO
IRAN 2,220
BAKU INTERNATIONAL SERVICE
IN PERSIAN -0-
BAKU INTERNATIONAL SERVICE
IN AZERI 1,030
DUSHANBE INTERNATIONAL SERVICE
IN PERSIAN -0--
'T'ASHKENT INTERNATIONAL SERVICE
IN PERSIAN -0-
'T'ASHKEN'T' INTERNATIONAL SERVICE
IN UIGHUR -C)-
TASHKENT INTERNATIONAL SERVICE
IN UZBEK 1,100
YEREVAN INTERNATIONAL SERVICE
IN ARMENIAN -0-
ALMA-ATA DOMESTIC SERVICE
IN RUSSIAN -0-
ASHKHABAD DOMESTIC SERVICE
IN RUSSIAN 1,610
BAKU DOMESTIC SERVICE
IN AZERI 5,480
BAKU DOMESTIC SERVICE
IN RUSSIAN -0-
DUSHANBE DOMESTIC SERVICE
I N RUSSIAN 170
10,820
1,130
690
1,660
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'TASHKEN'T DOMESTIC SERVICE
IN RUSSIAN
TASHKENT DOMESTIC SERVICE
IN UZBEK
YEREVAN DOMESTIC SERVICE IN
ARMENIAN
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
--------------------
ABU DHABI DOMESTIC SERVICE
IN ARABIC
DUBAYY DOMESTIC SERVICE
IN ARABIC
ABU DHABI WAM
IN ARABIC
ABU DHABI AL-ITTIHAD
IN ARABIC
ABU DHABI AL-ITTIHAD AL-USBU'I
IN ARABIC
AL-SHARIQAH AL-KHALIJ
IN APIEu
DUBAYY AL-BAYAN
IN ARABIC
DUBAYY KHALEEJ TIMES
IN ENGLISH
-0-
6 , 350
-0-
2,0:330
UNITED KINGDOM
--------------
LONDON AL-MAJALIS
IN ARABIC
LONDON ASGHAR AQA
IN PERSIAN
LONDON KEYHAN IN
PERSIAN
LONDON VOICE OF IRAN
IN ENGLISH
PEOPLE'S DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC
OF YEMEN (PDRY)
----------------------------
ADEN DOMESTIC SERVICE IN
ARABIC 11 , 230
ADEN VOICE OF PALESTINE
IN ARABIC 2,360
ADEN ANA IN
ARABIC
ADEN ANA IN
ENGLISH
4,100
1,810
850
5,790
3 , 5 2 0
6,240
-0-
-0-
3,350
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YEMEN ARAB REPUBLIC (YAR)
-------------------------
SANAA DOMESTIC SERVICE
IN ARABIC 59sti30
SANAA VOICE OF PALESTINE
IN ARABIC 4,540
SANAA AL-THAWRAH
IN ARABIC
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