I consider it a second consecutive victory for our side in the Coalition's long effort to stop the Clinton-era destruction of VOA.
There will need to be others, especially filling the positions on the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG). I suggest we will win them too, as the Reilly/Goble efforts to reconstruct VOA will most likely run into some opposition on BBG and they will need allies.
Our ability to broadcast the American message (values, interests,policies, life), i.e. public diplomacy, was dealt practically a death blow when the US Information Agency was destroyed and its remnants rolled into various areas of State Dept. Now everyone, especially Congress, laments over our inability to communicate with the world's publics, i.e. "why do they hate us so much?" Even in our area, East/Central Europe and the Baltics, negative stories about the US vastly dominate positive ones in the media. (Like the one I just read about the "new Bush doctrine is to be the bull in the china shop!") The committee sessions in Congress that I have attended, show that even the most knowledgable Congressmen as well as their witnesses, have no understanding of even the basics of public diplomacy.
Bob Reilly's and Paul Goble's job will be tough and they will need our support. They will, of course, get more money for the current area of interest rather than Europe. However, it should mean that there will be no more cuts in Europe and enough to correct anomalies that were created by the previous director.
I will try to get a Coalition meeting with them ASAP. To give them time, perhaps I will shoot for Dec or Jan. Best, Vello.