Talk Radio Comes to Baghdad

In the surest sign yet that the U.S. liberation is beginning to have a lasting impact on Iraq's culture, Baghdad now has its own talk radio station - where callers are allowed to complain about anything as long as they don't incite violence.

"There are no Rush Limbaughs here - yet," reports Newsday. In fact, the station, dubbed Radio Dijla, has a rule for its hosts: Don't butt in with opinions.

Still, the rules don't seem to inhibit listeners from dialing in. So far, callers' most pressing issue is the lack of electricity, reports the station's founder, 34-year-old Ahmad al-Rikaby. And yes, there are complaints about life under U.S. occupation.

What about that U.S. media obsession, Abu Ghraib?

The Radio Dijla founder made no mention of the prison abuse scandal among his list of hot topics.

Instead, Baghdadis want to know why, for instance, if the U.S. can put a man on the moon and repair oil pipelines in record time, it can't provide air conditioning to counter the city's 100-degree heat?

Another big difference from its American cousins: Radio Dijla is forced to operate under intense security. Guards standing behind sandbags protect the station, while al-Rikaby keeps a submachine gun nearby just in case.

Most of the station's talk jockeys are young women with little radio experience. They listen patiently as callers flood the phone lines - "18,000 attempted calls on its two lines every day" - says Newsday.

Numbers like that suggest that Iraqis are eager to take advantage of their newfound freedom.

Before the liberation, talk radio in Baghdad was limited to al-Shabab Radio, run by Saddam's murderous son Uday. Callers were allowed to discuss only love and poetry, but anti-government talk was strictly forbidden.

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