hokie4redskins Posted August 10, 2007 Share Posted August 10, 2007 WILL SOMEBODY PLEASE SAVE THE POOR INTERPRETERS!!?? Uh oh, the surge is working. QUICK!! Write a despairing article lamenting interpreter sacrifices. BAGHDAD, Iraq -- The young Iraqi known as Ronnie fears for his life. Nearly four years ago, as a recent high school graduate, he signed up to be an interpreter for the U.S. military. It seemed like a good job at the time. Today, he is a marked man. http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/meast/08/09/iraqi.interpreters/index.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarge Posted August 10, 2007 Share Posted August 10, 2007 Hopefully we can kill all the *******s and people like this can get around to a normal life. Unless of course we do what the Dems want to do, cut and run, then we should bring them with us when the Dems make us leave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raub Posted August 10, 2007 Share Posted August 10, 2007 God forbid anyone should actually risk their life for their own country. What a horrible idea. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpillian Posted August 10, 2007 Share Posted August 10, 2007 Actually, this is a very valid issue. I agree that there is a constant agenda that is getting pitched/covered by the media from both sides of the political spectrum. However, this is an issue that needs highlighting so that our politicians and bureaucrats can make the policy exceptions needed to take care of these folks. These interpreters have acted as great patriots to both the American and Iraqi/Afghani peoples, and without the US giving them sanctuary they will be killed. I recently tried to get one of my interpreters from when I was there covered by this immigration plan; but the bar has been set pretty damn high. If I remember correctly, the interpreter had to have a General officer sponsoring him, an official background check performed, and have been in the employ of the US govt. for at least 12 months. BTW -- here's a link to a Fact Sheet on this issue: http://www.visaportal.com/agencies/article.asp?article_id=345 In the case of my translator: 1) I have no way to get a General officer to sponsor him now 2) There was no background check performed on him (to my knowledge) when we hired him in 2003 -- so who knows how we could get that 3) I know he worked for 9 months for us; but when a new unit came in, they ended up going with a different contractor -- and as a result our former translators went back out on the street The bottomline, there's a lot of these guys that made our jobs a ton easier and safer while in theater. It'd be a shame if all we can give them in the end is a "good luck and God bless" and leave them up to the "mercy" of various groups of insurgents. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dreamingwolf Posted August 10, 2007 Share Posted August 10, 2007 Im sure the media will collect the names of all the interpreters that were involved, and make them accessible to the public. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grhqofb5 Posted August 10, 2007 Share Posted August 10, 2007 Im sure the media will collect the names of all the interpreters that were involved, and make them accessible to the public. Gee whiz, your attacks on the freedom of the press just never stop, do they? :doh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dreamingwolf Posted August 10, 2007 Share Posted August 10, 2007 Gee whiz, your attacks on the freedom of the press just never stop, do they? :doh: are you saying the press should release the names or that the freedom of the press should be curtailed in this case. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fergasun Posted August 10, 2007 Share Posted August 10, 2007 Anyway we can put them to work for Blackwater? Can't we just have them "killed" with funerals... and then someone similar looking shows up in a US Army Military? Something like this would be awesome... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sticksboi05 Posted August 10, 2007 Share Posted August 10, 2007 Gee whiz, your attacks on the freedom of the press just never stop, do they? :doh: There is freedom of press and then there is unnecessarily putting people at risk. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zuck Posted August 10, 2007 Share Posted August 10, 2007 Uh oh, the surge is working. If this is what you call succeding I'd hate to see your definition of failing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry Posted August 10, 2007 Share Posted August 10, 2007 Thought does occur to me that I'd bet Al Qaeda could think of some uses for out-of-work Iraqis who're looking at possibly being murdered, and who speak English well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoCalMike Posted August 10, 2007 Share Posted August 10, 2007 Hopefully we can kill all the *******s and people like this can get around to a normal life.Unless of course we do what the Dems want to do, cut and run, then we should bring them with us when the Dems make us leave Umm...excuse me, "what the Dems want to do" Hi, 2004 is calling and it wants your distorted reality back. Last time I checked it was a whole hell of a lot more people then just "the Dems" that want this war over with, or at least some type of timetable/exit strategy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grhqofb5 Posted August 11, 2007 Share Posted August 11, 2007 are you saying the press should release the names or that the freedom of the press should be curtailed in this case. I'd always suggest intellectual responsibility when presented with such sensitive information. I realize thats a high order for some.... and I also realize that it's unrealistic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bang Posted August 11, 2007 Share Posted August 11, 2007 Seems kind of counter-productive. How hard would it be to take care of a relatively few people who have put their lives on the line as much as any soldier has to assist in our efforts. They are patriots for their country doing what they can. We should not forsake our friends. ~Bang Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hokie4redskins Posted August 11, 2007 Author Share Posted August 11, 2007 If this is what you call succeding I'd hate to see your definition of failing. You're from Berkeley? Shocker. :laugh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thesaftypin Posted August 11, 2007 Share Posted August 11, 2007 its horrible that things like this happen. I would hate to be a good, genuine human being on the other side of all this ..Alot of my family members and good friends that have been there and back have their own disturbing stories they tell.. That being said, compaired to all the other things we have to deal with over there, this isent that high on the scale.. i really dont see anything changing when it comes to situations like this....Yeah it sucks.. and it makes you think... "...damn..." but thats about it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
headexplode Posted August 11, 2007 Share Posted August 11, 2007 God forbid anyone should actually risk their life for their own country. What a horrible idea. WILL SOMEBODY PLEASE SAVE THE POOR INTERPRETERS!!??Uh oh, the surge is working. QUICK!! Write a despairing article lamenting interpreter sacrifices. BAGHDAD, Iraq -- The young Iraqi known as Ronnie fears for his life. Nearly four years ago, as a recent high school graduate, he signed up to be an interpreter for the U.S. military. It seemed like a good job at the time. Today, he is a marked man. http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/meast/08/09/iraqi.interpreters/index.html I'm not really sure where this sarcasm is being directed. Is it that any article that suggests that life in Iraq is not all roses and candycanes is assumed by both of you to have an agenda attached to it? Are we not to discuss the people who have sacrificed their whole lives to try to help build a better life for their families, their countrymen, and themselves, for a war that we started? We're allowed to discuss the sacrifices of our troops, but not the Iraqis (who are, by the way, the ones doing most of the dying)? Whether the surge is "working" or not, I can't see how anyone would think an article about the hardships of interpreters is somehow a bad thing, unless those people are unable and/or unwilling to put themselves in the shoes of the average Iraqi citizen (even for a minute) and wonder how they would feel if some foreign power (and perhaps the richest and most powerful of all foreign powers that have ever existed) invaded their country and started telling them how things are going to be done. Then when they helped the foreign power at great risk to themselves and their families all they got was a hearty handshake and a "thanks for playing, folks." Then had someone write an article about their tribulations which are then openly mocked by people so entrenched in their own agenda that they don't even take the time to think before they speak (or post). But, hey, I actually like to think for myself, so what do I know? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raub Posted August 11, 2007 Share Posted August 11, 2007 I'm not really sure where this sarcasm is being directed. Is it that any article that suggests that life in Iraq is not all roses and candycanes is assumed by both of you to have an agenda attached to it? Are we not to discuss the people who have sacrificed their whole lives to try to help build a better life for their families, their countrymen, and themselves, for a war that we started? We're allowed to discuss the sacrifices of our troops, but not the Iraqis (who are, by the way, the ones doing most of the dying)?Whether the surge is "working" or not, I can't see how anyone would think an article about the hardships of interpreters is somehow a bad thing, unless those people are unable and/or unwilling to put themselves in the shoes of the average Iraqi citizen (even for a minute) and wonder how they would feel if some foreign power (and perhaps the richest and most powerful of all foreign powers that have ever existed) invaded their country and started telling them how things are going to be done. Then when they helped the foreign power at great risk to themselves and their families all they got was a hearty handshake and a "thanks for playing, folks." Then had someone write an article about their tribulations which are then openly mocked by people so entrenched in their own agenda that they don't even take the time to think before they speak (or post). But, hey, I actually like to think for myself, so what do I know? I think you misunderstood my post. I was implying that they should be applauded and recognized for the risk they're taking, instead of having their contribution minimalized. Of course what do I know, I'm just a government automaton conditioned by 17 years in the military to post whatever they program me with. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Sisko Posted August 11, 2007 Share Posted August 11, 2007 Regardless of your position on this war, you'd have to admit that our treatment of our allies after conflicts such as this hasn't exactly been honorable. Just ask the Hmong. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Winslowalrob Posted August 11, 2007 Share Posted August 11, 2007 I think you misunderstood my post. I was implying that they should be applauded and recognized for the risk they're taking, instead of having their contribution minimalized. Of course what do I know, I'm just a government automaton conditioned by 17 years in the military to post whatever they program me with. Could you clarify how "God forbid anyone should actually risk their life for their own country. What a horrible idea." implies that "they should be applauded and recognized for the risk they're taking?" I inferred that this interpreter should serve Iraq, like it, and not question or complain how the Americans treat him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Winslowalrob Posted August 11, 2007 Share Posted August 11, 2007 Regardless of your position on this war, you'd have to admit that our treatment of our allies after conflicts such as this hasn't exactly been honorable. Just ask the Hmong. REGARDLESS? Are you insane? Your position on the war is the most important factor when determining how we treat our allies. If you have been on Bush's corner since 2001 America has done no wrong and any ally that complains is a schmuck. Anybody else realizes that our treatment of allies is more of a mixed bag. A mixed bag of crap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Sisko Posted August 12, 2007 Share Posted August 12, 2007 I'm not exactly sure I get what you mean WinslowRob. My point was that the Iraqi interpreters had/have a lot to worry about given our history of leaving allies at the mercy of enemies after we're finished with them. That holds true whether you agree with us being in Iraq or not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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