Mixed Signals

A presidential commission has called for the phase-out of Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty, the two special services that broadcast news behind the Iron Curtain for over 40 years. The group said the $207 million-a-year operations duplicate the Voice of America, the general overseas U.S. network. The recommendations contradict those of a previous Bush task force. The latest report also urges shutting down the Cuba-beamed TV Marti and skipping the start-up of a Radio Free China. Both have influential congressional backers.