U.S. Military Bars Iraqi Translators from Wearing Masks

"not being able to face one's accuser" (0.00 / 0)

A translator is not an "accuser."  I think it is ridiculous to make a policy like this from the safety of a DC office.

I also detest the idea that "the CONTRACTOR  is not having any issues filling our translators/interpreters requirement." as I can imagine desperate people taking a job like this despite the risk to their life.

I also wonder how much 'vetting' the CONTRACTOR does to determine the translator's ability and motives where our soldiers and the Iraqi people's lives are at risk under VERY trying circumstances.

End the occupation; bring our people home.

karen

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by: karen @ Mon Nov 17, 2008 at 17:38:21 PM CST

I cannot (0.00 / 0)

help but see this as another example of counterproductivity on our part.  

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by: FredUSMC @ Mon Nov 17, 2008 at 18:22:44 PM CST

Seriously (4.00 / 1)

with leadership like what Brandon has just pointed out, I would not feel good about committing combat troops anywhere, much less a sure slugfest in the FATA. We cannot win without local support in Iraq, Afganistan, the FATA, or most anywhere else. These translators' families securities are at a very great risk and we are concerned with image??????  

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by: FredUSMC @ Mon Nov 17, 2008 at 19:07:05 PM CST

There is story after story of interpreters being killed, (4.00 / 1)

for being interpreters, and their families left destitute if not killed also.

Why is this obvious to a civilian in California USA and the U.S. command in Baghdad isn't aware?  Or don't they care?

There are lots of stupid ideas that get passed the way Lt. Nixon describes it, but to ignore the reason that the interpreters wear the masks in the first place seems almost deliberate.

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by: boadicaea @ Mon Nov 17, 2008 at 19:53:13 PM CST

If you ask me, (4.00 / 2)

this shows an utter disregard for both the translators' and our troops' well being. I would expect this from the civilian leadership, but am deeply disturbed to see it from the Uniform side of the aisle.

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by: FredUSMC @ Mon Nov 17, 2008 at 20:14:35 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Un-freakin'-believeable!!! (4.00 / 3)

  I read this earlier today at work, and I think my head almost exploded.

 This is the dumbest thing I've heard since... since... the great idea to disband the remnants of the Iraqi Army in 2003.

 I spent a great deal of my time in 2004 managing interpreters at FOB Bernstein (since given back to Iraq), and there were very few of them who were willing to go out "plain," even in a relatively rural area like Tuz Khurmatu. Many of these guys came from other cities stretching the length and width of Iraq, and still were deathly afraid of being called out and having a 'message' sent to their home 400 miles away.

 Indeed, a couple of my terps quit under pressure; another was abducted and (presumed) killed about a year after my unit left. Sure, I didn't really trust a lot of them that well (and we had ways of ferreting out the 'rougher' ones), but they were there going out with us daily, and we had to take care of them.

 It was the ones who did not "mask up" that tended to catch my eye...and this new policy of making every one of them go 'plain' will A) Make a bunch of them quit; B) Make insurgents/AQI/etc. more bold in zeroing  in on the Iraqis with any given unit and C) Open up an even greater divide between the Iraqi people and US forces.

 I loved the LTC's lame-ass excuse that the terps need to adhere to the 'professional' army standards. HELLO! These folks are not in the US Army! We depend on them, tho, and must make appropriate arrangements, such as protecting their valuable rear-ends.

 This should be one of those old Bud Light commercials, "Real Men of Genius."

 "Here's to you, staff officer Douchebag, for doing all you can to shoot our forces in the foot yet again. Grab a cold Bud Light, Mister, and say, 'Yeah, they took another one for the team, and I got a good bullet point on my OER!' "

 Man alive, I'm torqued about this. Stupid, stupid, stupid!!!

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by: IrritatedVet @ Mon Nov 17, 2008 at 21:36:38 PM CST

haha... (4.00 / 1)

....good parody on the Bud Light commercials.  You should make a YouTube video out of that.

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by: LT Nixon @ Mon Nov 17, 2008 at 22:24:18 PM CST

[ Parent ]

What a bad idea... (4.00 / 3)

...We should never forcibly jeopardize the lives of those that support us.  Good catch on this article!  The military is receptive to criticism from the media on policies that they are in control of, so hopefully they will re-think this issue.  After all, didn't you get IRR recruiters to change their tune?  It sounds like little input was taken from combatant commands and the terps themselves.  

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by: LT Nixon @ Mon Nov 17, 2008 at 22:29:27 PM CST

It's reassuring to know (4.00 / 1)

that not ALL of the media are incompetent and inept - I sure hope this story grows some legs because this cannot be allowed to stand. If it does, so much for winning hearts and minds - too sad to even think about.

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by: Elizabeth Miller @ Mon Nov 17, 2008 at 22:41:09 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Hey this isnt so bad right? (4.00 / 2)

I think its working fine...oh by  the way RIP Saffer Al Dulamey aka "Ceaser". If he was alive and not recently killed by insurgents who recognised him we could ask him about the policy.

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by: war-junkie @ Tue Nov 18, 2008 at 02:44:22 AM CST

Is this a budget measure. (4.00 / 1)

I can see someone sitting in some office saying "We can cut X amount of dollars by telling translators to take off their safety masks."

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by: Brian McGough @ Tue Nov 18, 2008 at 09:04:13 AM CST

Oh hell. Don't get me started (4.00 / 2)

We could save money by issuing the troops less ammo too.  Or by limiting the amount of supplies the medics carry.  Or by telling our chopper pilots to use less fuel.

You know, come to think of it - I could have been an officer.

"No U.S. soldier ever dies in vain because they're carrying out the missions of their commander in chief. And we honor all the service that they've provided." - Barack Obama

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by: Chris LeJeune @ Tue Nov 18, 2008 at 10:39:21 AM CST

[ Parent ]

Stupid is as Stupid Does (4.00 / 2)

Forrest Gump's Momma had it right.  This is pure idiocy.

A history lesson for the Pentagon:  Remember that "Tea Party" that took place in Boston Harbor in 1773?  The Colonists that dressed up like Indians and threw the tea overboard to protest taxation  by the British?

Well, Colonel Blimp, the Colonists were US, and the reason they dressed up as Indians was TO HIDE THEIR IDENTITIES!

SO THEY AND THEIR FAMILIES WOULDN'T BE ARRESTED AND MAYBE KILLED!

Do "...professional Army standards" mean we have to go back to wearing bright-colored uniforms and marching toward the enemy in straight lines?

The interpreters and their families deseerve all the protection we can provide.

Anybody know a Congressman who might want to query the Army brass on this?

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by: namcpt @ Tue Nov 18, 2008 at 14:38:40 PM CST

My suggestion: (0.00 / 0)

Sen. Webb of Virginia. Now that I live in VA, I believe I need to write a letter this evening. Perhaps to Sec. Gates as well.

 Since the security situation is so rosy, and our army is so professional, I think we need to do away with those pesky IBA's and helmets and go on patrol wearing Class A's.

 Shit, I should be a staff officer, too...an idea like that would be a 'feather in my cap,' to paraphrase "Catch-22."

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by: IrritatedVet @ Tue Nov 18, 2008 at 15:21:55 PM CST

[ Parent ]