A“They are aware that I am going to win and they want the least possible exposure. Iceland is one place that it is not possible even to use a television satellite.
“Chess is a big propaganda vehicle with the Russians.” - Robert J. Fischer, June 06, 1972.
([The geography of Iceland made it difficult for world press to cover the tournament and simple for the Soviet Union to isolate the tournament from factual coverage. Limited correspondents attended, which enabled the USSR to control the narrative and flow of information.])
“To the Russians, Fischer insisted, chess was a propaganda vehicle by which the Soviets attempted to show that Communist minds were the best in the world.” - August 08, 1972
The Boston Globe Boston, Massachusetts Friday, July 21, 1972
Can You Recognize Soviet Propaganda? Robert Fischer Did. Soviet Caricature of Fischer Scorned in Far East by Crocker Snow, Jr., Globe Asian Bureau
In Asia, with the American government's reputation tarnished anew by the continued bombing campaign of North Vietnam ([but Soviet USSR kept it quite secret Soviet troops were present in Viet Nam fanning the flames of war]) and the persistent stories of dams and dikes coming under attack, it is now the turn of Mr. American as such who finds his reputation badly soiled by SOVIET CARICATURE of the cerebral chess player from Brooklyn ([stories based on exaggerations, fabrications and mangled renditions of actual events. Attempts to distort the fact the Soviets brought in an army of disruptive camera operators to throw points in their own favor then break the rules, and refuse to remove the disruptions. Sordid petty acts of poor sportsmanship from the Soviet's chess propaganda vehicle.])
Fischer's ([attributed by the many Soviet myths manufactured in Moscow]) during the last three weeks have filled Asia with an image of American arrogance, avarice and downright ill manners. ([Including Moscow's ill-mannered and inhospitable selection of Iceland, with historical Anti-American intolerance, as well as Racist, forbidding entry by persons of black race.]) By contrast, Russian opponent Boris Spassky comes across as a cultured, civilized, and most of all patient comrade and competitor.
Surprisingly, the Fischer-Spassky matchup in Reykjavik has occasioned lots of attention on this side of the Pacific where such board games as Chinese “Mahjong” and Japanese “Go” are far more popular than chess. ([What were these Soviet opinions on Icelandic Fascists issuing threats on the lives of Fischer, and “foreign reporters” such as themselves, issuing ultimatum to “leave Iceland in 8 hours or be s**t?” was relayed from Reykjavik, but no, Moscow is silent.])
Spot coverage by newspapers and television provides timely news of all the latest developments. And ([Manufactured in Moscow Caricature]) of Fischer has engendered a spate of anti-American editorials all over East Asia.
Even in the Indian subcontinent early this month, the Fischer story got almost as much press attention as the Democratic national convention in Miami.
Among the many English language papers in New Delhi, the event has allowed the not so nascent political anti-Americanism to come to the fore as personal anti-Americanism too.
In Dacca, the “Bangladesh Observer” and other papers have devoted some space in their precious six to eight pages daily to uncomplimentary stores about the Iceland match.
The Tokyo press has covered the story closely, as it does most any happening concerning America, but the editorials have been restrained, and some even sympathetic to Fischer, picturing him as something of a tortured genius. ([Or, as more to the point, knowing that half the rubbish churned out in the world press is propaganda, fictionalized, hyperbole and those knowing Fischer personally, knew better.])
In pro-American Bangkok, the English language papers have had a field day.
The city's most independent “The Nation,” offered a long editorial last week under the title “Fischer is not worth admiring,” ([and to set the record straight, “The Soviet Empire crashed and burned because it was built on the backs of peasants. Fueled on the blood, sweat and tears of its most vulnerable citizens. USSR selecting Anti-American, Racist Iceland who restricted entry of blacks and news coverage. Fails to elaborate on the finicky, overbearing demands and complaints of European organizers who refused for months to work out details pre-match. Belgrade's illegal demand of 35K USD “guarantee” refused by USCF! Australia's legal $225K bid snubbed by Russia, threatening they “would not play”. Schemes to disqualify Fischer and replace with Petrosian, etc. Unleashing a flood of daily distortions of events, nonsensical rubbish made up from thin air, but calling it “News” from behind the Iron Curtain of the Soviet controlled Icelandic Chess Federation!]) which concluded that: “Potential world champions (Fischer) should not only have the skill to reach such heights, but also have the character ([perhaps character defamation by Soviets]) so that the rest of the world can look upon them admiringly. Whether he wins or not, Fischer does not qualify to be a world champion.” ([End of the Rehashed Soviet Anti-American tirade, taken out on a simple chess player in an overreaching display of Soviet arrogance and piss poor sportsmanship]).
