MONTHLY REPORT--GULF BUREAU--FEBRUARY 1982

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP86-00040R000100040009-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 9
• Document Creation Date: December 21, 2016
• Document Release Date: February 19, 2008
• Sequence Number: 9
• Publication Date: March 6, 1982
• Content Type: MEMO

Approved For Release 2008/02/19: CIA-RDP86-00040R000100040009-2
MGF 005-82
6 March 1982
Memorandum for : Director, FBIS
Through Chief, Operations Group
Subject Monthly Report--Gulf Bureau--February 1982
I. GENERAL
In an effort to verify unconfirmed reports that Iran's
Ayatollah Khomeyni had died, the bureau on the night of 16-17
February remained open throughout the night to maintain an open-
speaker watch on Tehran radio. Numerous FYI's were filed during
this period reporting on the radio's programming and behavior.
The watch was called off a few days later, however, when Khomeyni
himself took to the air ways to ridicule reports of his death.
Recruiting trips were made to Kuwait and Pakistan during
the month. A possible Kurdish candidate was interviewed and
tested in Kuwait with satisfactory results. During the trip to
Pakistan a strong Baluchi candidate was tested along with a strong
Farsi/Dari/Pashto/Urdu candidate. Separate reports on these
candidates have been supplied to headquarters.
The bureau has also gotten into the business of processing
material recorded at other bureaus and mailed to Gulf. In addition,
we have assumed coverage of three Tehran newspapers formerly
handled by the London PMU. We are currently processing Uighur tapes
recorded in Islamabad as well as tapes of the clandestine Voice of
Lebanese Armenians recorded for us in Nicosia.
II. OPERATIONS
/
A. Editorial/Monitorial
1. The bureau's coverage of Soviet Central Asia took another
step forward during the month with the assumption of Tashkent Uighur
coverage from Nicosia bureau. The Uighur broadcasts- ar"e recor-ded-
by the Islamabad unit and mailed to us weekly. We receive the tapes
with only a 1-day time lag. Uighur is now the third language that
-has mastered in the last 18 months. The other two are `'IAI
Azeri and Uzbek and he is also working on Kazakh. The man is truely
gifted.
Approved For Release 2008/02/19: CIA-RDP86-00040R000100040009-2
 Approved For Release 2008/02/19: CIA-RDP86-00040R000100040009-2
2 -
2. Persistent rumors of Ayatollah Khomeyni's deteriorating
health and possible death prompted the bureau at mid-month to
mount an open-speaker watch on Tehran Domestic Service and Tehran
International Arabic. The watches were extended throughout the
night of 16-17 February when Iran remained silent on Khomeyni's
health or his whereabouts. The suspense eased somewhat on 18
February when a decree was issued in Khomeyni's name and dis-
appeared completely when the Ayatollah finally put in an appearance
after 2 weeks of self-imposed silence.
3. At the request of the BBC the bureau began covering
Tehran Domestic Service 0530-0630 GMT daily after the radio began
using its shortwave transmitters to beam an hour-long program in
Spanish at this time. The Domestic Service is heard here on
mediumwave frequencies via relays in Shiraz, Ahvaz and Bushehr.
4. With. the resignation of PMUts sole Persian monitor,
the bureau assumed coverage of the Tehran newspapers ETTEL'AT,
JOMHURT-YE ESLAMI and KEYHAN. The papers are mailed from London.
We receive them with an average delay of 10 days from date of
publication. As anticipated, most perishable material is
adequately covered by either Tehran radio or IRNA. However, in
February we processed interviews and narcotics reports from the
papers-totalling 8,860 words.
S. In order to enable the BBC to grant its Dari and Pashto
monitors some well earned leave time, we have assumed coverage
of Kabul radio on Monday and Tuesday through 16 March. Program
summaries for the two main Domestic Service newscasts at 1530 GMT
in Pashto and at 1600 GMT in Dart are wirefiled to the BBC for
use by its editorial department.
6. We also assumed coverage of the clandestine Voice of
Lebanese Armenians radio during the month:. This is new programming
originating from the facilities of the clandestine Voice of the
Arab Revolution radio. The programs focus on material reflecting
the views of the Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of
Armenia--ASALA. The programs are recorded by Nicosia and mailed
to Gulf bureau. The time lag so far has been 5-7 days. The radio
appears to Be a productive source. So far we have been processing
at least one item from each cast.
7. We returned coverage of the Moscow Urdu 1200 and 1300
and Beijing Urdu 1600 GMT broadcasts to Bangkok at the beginning
of the month. We had been covering these casts for Bangkok for
the last several months because of a shortage of Urdu capability
there.
Approved For Release 2008/02/19: CIA-RDP86-00040R000100040009-2 1
 Approved For Release 2008/02/19: CIA-RDP86-0004OR000100040009-2
B. LATERAL SERVICES
The hijacking of the Tanzania Airliner at mid-month
prompted a great deal of interest here when the plane landed in
Jidda for refueling. Concerned that the hijackers might divert
the plane to Bahrain both the Ambassador and the Bahraini-Minister
of Information requested that we call them at home at any hour
should such, reports- be monitored. However, the plane flew next
to Athens.
III. VISITS
To the bureau on 2 February:. Mr Sheldon Krys, Executive
Director, Near East and Africa Bureau, Department of State.
Bu u Cie
STAT
Approved For Release 2008/02/19: CIA-RDP86-0004OR000100040009-2
 Approved For Release 2008/02/19: CIA-RDP86-0004OR000100040009-2
GULF BUREAU PRODUCTION REPORT FOR FEBRUARY 1982
I. TOTAL'S FROM ALL''SOURCES:
TOTAL PUBLISHABLE WORDAGE FILED DURING MONTH: 254,690
TOTAL NON-PUBLISHABLE WORDAGE FILED DURING MONTH: 101,830
TOTAL NUMBER OF PUBLISHABLE ITEMS FILED DURING MONTH: 706
BROAD- PRESS PUBLI-
CASTS AGENCIES CATIONS
II. INPUT-OF REGULAR COVERAGE: 12,035 6510 167
(minutes or issues per week) -mins. mins. issues
III. OUTPUT FROM ALL'SOURCES:
(publishable words per month)
AFGHANISTAN
Kabul in English to
South Asia 2,730
Kabul in Urdu to
South Asia 1,720
Kabul Domestic Service in
Pashto 400
Kabul Domestic Service in
Dari 760
Manama Domestic Service in
Arabic 5,910
Manama Domestic Service in
English 0
Manama Domestic Television
Service in Arabic 4,130
Manama WAKH in
Arabic
Manama GULF NEWS AGENCY in
English
Manama AKBAR AL-KHALIJ in
Arabic
Manama AL-ADWA in
Arabic
Manama GULF DAILY NEWS in
English
Manama GULF MIRROR in
English
34,840
2,980
1,990
610
Approved For Release 2008/02/19: CIA-RDP86-0004OR000100040009-2
 Approved For Release 2008/02/19: CIA-RDP86-00040R000100040009-2
- 2 -
BROAD- PRESS PUBLI-
CASTS AGENCIES CATIONS
Manama SADA AL-USBU in
Arabic
(Clandestine) Voice of Lebanese Armenians
in Armenian 7,170
(Clandestine) National Voice of
Iran in Azeri to Iran 0
(Clandestine) Free Voice, of Iran
in Persian to Iran 6,730
(Clandestine) Radio Iran in
Persian to Iran 3,840
(Clandestine) Voice of Iran
in Persian 4,420
(Clandestine) Ahvaz Voice of
Al-Qadisiyah in Arabic 0
(Clandestine) Voice of Iraqi
Islamic Revolution in Arabic 0
Tehran International Service in
Arabic 22,440
Tehran International Service in
Russian 0
Tehran International Service in
Turkish 8,710
Tehran International Service in
Urdu 480
Zahedan International Service in
Urdu 150
Tehran Domestic Service in
Persian 4,090
Tehran International Service in
Pashto 140
Abadan Domestic Television Service
in Persian 0
Tehran Domestic Television Service
in Persian 0
Abadan NIOC Radio in
Arabic 1,460
Ahvaz Domestic Service in
Persian 720
Approved For Release 2008/02/19: CIA-RDP86-00040R000100040009-2 1
 Approved For Release 2008/02/19: CIA-RDP86-00040R000100040009-2
Mashhad Domestic Service in
Persian
Shiraz Domestic Service in
Persian
Tehran IRNA in
English
Bushehr Domestic Service in
Persian
Tehran Jomhuri-Ye Eslami in
Persian
Tehran Ettela'at in
Persian
Tehran Keyhan in
Persian
BROAD- PRESS PUBLI-
CASTS AGENCIES CATIONS
1,730
1,480
3,230
4,360
1,270
IRAQ
Baghdad International Service in
Azeri 4,790
Baghdad Domestic Service in
Arabic
Kuwait AL-ANBA' in
Arabic
750
Kuwait AL-QABAS in
Arabic
1,660
Kuwait AR-RA'Y AL-'AMM in
Arabic
10
410
Kuwait ARAB TIMES in
,
English
1,880
Kuwait AS-SIYASAH in
Arabic
5,860
Beirut ARARAT in
Armenian
Muscat Domestic Service in
Arabic
Salalah Domestic Service in
Arabic
Muscat TIMES OF OMAN in
English
2,050
Approved For Release 2008/02/19: CIA-RDP86-00040R000100040009-2
 Approved For Release 2008/02/19: CIA-RDP86-0004OR000100040009-2
- 4 -
PAKISTAN
Karachi Domestic Service in
Urdu
Karachi DAWN in
English
Karachi JANG in
Urdu
Karachi JASARAT in
Urdu
Karachi MASHRIQ in
Urdu
Lahore NAWA-E WAQT in
Urdu
'QATAR
Doha Domestic Service in
Arabic
Doha QNA in
Arabic
Doha AR-RAYAH in
Arabic
BROAD- PRESS PUBLI-
CASTS AGENCIES CATIONS
1,330
10,450
SAUD'I ARABIA
Riyadh Domestic Service in
Arabic 520
Riyadh Domestic Television
Service in Arabic 3,070
Riyadh Domestic Television
Service in English 0
Ad-Dammam AL-YAWM in
Arabic
Jidda AL-BILAD in
Arabic
Jidda AL-MADINAH in
Arabic
UNION OF 'SOVI'ET 'SOCIALI'ST 'REPUB'LICS
Moscow in Dari to
Afghanistan 620
Moscow in Persian to
Iran 6,290
Baku International Service in
Azeri 1,440
8,090
1,280
3,050
1,530
1,060
420
5,250
Approved For Release 2008/02/19: CIA-RDP86-0004OR000100040009-2 1
 Approved For Release 2008/02/19: CIA-RDP86-00040R000100040009-2
BROAD-
CASTS
PRESS
AGENCIES
PUBLI-
CATIONS
Tashkent International Service
in Uzbek
4,580
Yerevan International Service
in Armenian
1,510
Ashkabad Domestic Service in
Russian
4,110
Baku Domestic Service in
Russian
0
Tashkent Domestic Service in
Russian
4,420
Yerevan Domestic Service in
Armenian
740
Dushanbe Domestic Service in
Russian
3,610
Tashkent International Service in
Uighur
1,100
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
Abu Dhabi Domestic Service in
Arabic
5,550
Dubayy Domestic Service in
Arabic
Abu Dhabi WAM in
Arabic
8,060
Abu Dhabi AL-FAJR in
Arabic
340
Abu Dhabi AL-ITTIHAD in
Arabic
2,750
Abu Dhabi AL-ITTIHAD AL-USBU'I
in Arabic
530
Ash-Shariqah AL-KHALIJ in
Arabic
3,470
Dubayy AL-BRYAN in
Arabic
5,130
Dubayy KHALEEJ TIMES in
English
2,530
I Approved For Release 2008/02/19: CIA-RDP86-00040R000100040009-2
 Approved For Release 2008/02/19: CIA-RDP86-00040R000100040009-2
AttacJinient A
ENGINEERING REPORT--GULF BUREAU MONTHLY REPORT FOR FEBRUARY 1982
Equipment received: Hewlett-packard Voltmeter Model 400E
sn 1208A28024.
Typewriter. Remington Model 150.
10EA
Equipment Transferred: None
Projects: Strung long wire antenna at ASU.
Bearing 040. Length approximately
150 feet. Results of antenna
reception capabilities are being
ran at this time.
I Approved For Release 2008/02/19: CIA-RDP86-00040R000100040009-2