Soviet News and Propaganda Analysis from 'Red Star' 1981 Volume 1 №10

Washington D.C.: Joint Chiefs of Staff, 1981. — 46 p.The data in this report reflects Soviet print media emphasis and propaganda trends for over two years -- July 1979 to October 1981. During this period, more than 30,000 feature stories and news items were analyzed. The main purpose of this paper is to provide the reader with an overview of Soviet rhetoric and propaganda themes directed to Russian military forces during October 1981. This report contains a summary of the propaganda themes from the Russian language newspaper Red Star. Soviet perceptions of international events and Soviet domestic and military subjects are examined. During October, the amount of space allocated to the 'arms race' increased. Soviet propagandists repeatedly used the term 'new super-military program' to describe increases in U.S. military forces and production and development of weapons. Soviet coverage of events in Poland increased in October. Moscow's rhetoric was dogmatic and unequivocal in regard to the anti-socialist nature of Solidarity. The assassination of President Sadat of Egypt received modest coverage in the Soviet military press.