Shortwave Static Plagues Russians

It looks as if Russia may be dusting off its old over-the-horizon radar system to offer up to America in the hopes that pols would then drop plans to build a base in the Czech Republic (to detect missiles launched from Iran). It's a problematic plan on a number of fronts, but radio fans in particular are abuzz: The Russian system generates such a racket on shortwave frequencies that it is called the "Woodpecker." A possible side effect: Listeners in developing countries hit the off switch, keeping Voice of America from getting its message out to the Third World.