Show The Herald Journal Logan Utah Friday November Arabic speakers still Lack of fluency hampers military the Middle East WASHINGTON (AP) — Despite catch-u- p efforts the government still suffers from a shortage of Arabic speakers that gravely hampers military diplo- ' malic and intelligence opera- lions across the Middle Eiast In Iraq the language gap ' makes it more difficult for sol- diers to protect themselves At Guantanamo Bay Cuba it has jeopardized interrogations of ' : suspected ' ' terrorists da And on Arab television sta- -' itions it has left almost no one defending American policies Correcting the problem hasT n’t proved simple in the two years since the Sept II- -" attacks Arahic’and other Mid- die East languages arc radically different from English and it can take English-speakeseveral years to speak them ' rs comfortably “It’s easier to train someone to fly an F-- 1 4 than it is to speak Arabic" said Kevin Hendcl a spokesman for the American Translators Association Criticsoontend the United States simply hasn’t put emphasis oh closing the ' ' deficiency Britain for exam- pie’ gives extensive training Id ' a higher percentage ofthesolr diers it sends to Iraq ’' “This is such a critical chal- ' lenge that we havefthis battle' for the minds of this very ' important part' of the world"said EdwardP Djerejia'n a ' former US ambassador to si m- Syriaand Israel “We’re ' not there" ply ' Aggressive recruiting of Arabic ’speakers didn’t begin ' untif after the 2(X)I Sept attacks conducted by Arab V ?’ extremists from the network' A report by Con- 15?-- gross- intelligence committees criticized all major US ter- : ade-qua- le : 1 r 1 short supply inn ing to increase its own Arabic speakers The Arms has about 13(H) active-dut- y soldiers who can speak or read some Arabic and another KX) being trained at a defense language school in rorism-lightin- g efforts across t’ ' agencies for missing the growing threat of a terror attack Although many problems stemmed from agencies' not sharing information the shortage of Arab speakers may also have played a role In spite of the shortage six soldiers trained to speak Ara--' hie were among nine Army linguists dismissed from the service for homosexuality within six months of the US invasion of Iraq lust March Two said they sought federal jobs to use their language skills in the war on terror hut were rejectedThe FBI has acknowledged since the attacks that it needs more and better translators of all languages especially Mid-- : die Eastern languages' Simi-- " lurty the armed forces need ! Arabic speakers who also understand military jargon and are in good enough shape to keep up with troops Instead American troops on patrol in Iraq or rushing to secure bombing sites often speak little if any Arabic and so must shout in English hr try to gesture their way through dangerous confrontations It can be just as dangerous' to hire interpreters without sufficient screening A recent Army report on in Iraq found the military relying on translators who had been “convenience store workers and cab drivers" in the United States most over age 4() ' At Guantanamo Bay where intelligence-gatherin- g hundreds of suspected terror- ists remain in US custody the arrests of three translators ' on spying charges forced the some military to ' California US soldiers sent to Iraq Wood Furniture Solid ' No partiqal board ' - da Fully assembled : Lifetime ' also take a cultural awareness class and receive a “green book" that describes cultures customs and phrases including Arabic greetings! according to Army public affairs: In contrast several members of each British military: regiment sent to Iraq receive: 1 (( weeks of schooling in Ara-- ’ hie language and culture' pearly at tended 2(H) ' soldicrshavev' since January! CV according to Col Anthony Rahhitl the school's com- cV: manding officer' In addition all British soldiers sent to Iraq must a daylong'course on Middle Eastern culture and the Arabic language ' "We realize from our experience in Northern Ireland and also in the Balkans that basic-levgreetings confidence- -' building arid persuasion comes w ith a smile and a few words Arid the more people ' that can say those lew words the better" Rahhitl said have-attende- AP photo Marine Lance Corporal Jacob Dempsey of Texas left and Sgt Jeffrey Hale of Indiana read an Arabic language guide while keeping security watch at the command center of the Second Tank Battalion just west of Al Basrah Iraq in this March 22 2003 file photo el i want to comes in and says the FBI’ you’ve got to join think twice about that” said James Carafano who studies defense issues at the Heritage Foundation a conservative ' think tank A surge in student interest attacks may since the Sept offer some hope More than' 10 (XX) college students were taking Arabic classes in with autumn 2(X)2comparcd about 5500 four years earlier according to the Modern Luri- -' 1 1 guage Association Before the attacks more American students —'nearly 7(XX)’in 1998 — were signed up to learn Portuguese Meanwhile the State Department the agency pri- marily tasked with America's diplomatic relations world- wide has fewer than 60 employees fluent in Arabic out of 279 total Arabic speakers A scant five have the polish and skills to go with commentators oh Middle Eastern television programs according to an advisory cqni- mission Djeriejian headed V The panel recommended toe-to-t- oc hiring another fluent Ara-- :' hie speakers within two years and another TOO by 2(X)8 It suggested incentives to diplomats to maintain and improve their lluency To make up sonic of the gap the government is turning to private translators to handle 3(X) documents arid tapes through secure electronic connections “The work we have right nowwe measure by the trucks load!’ said Everette Jordan- director of the pew National Virtual Translation Center ' The government also is try- - DENTURES interrogations’ “If somebody from Syria iMMMMMWMWMWMhMWMMMMVMMMMW 2003 — A13 21 T!' - Lee Kelsey Ti I'- y the Seiisivi jL V’ iRvnpwnv nwiv Hot Stone Massage 50hr i I ' i J li Logan 435-760-31- J Net:’ 'Report of the Advisory Group pri Public Diplomacy for the Arab and Muslim World: http:wwwstategbvdocur mentsorganization24882pdf wmma Reptacnmont Wndowg Vinyl ” New DwjturH’ 50 Save Hundred! of Dollars Compared to Dentists Price RalinM rspslrswtiile you wait off your Massage when you buy 1 gift certificate' Receive ‘Hdulliy Cjlt fiTtljliilfi'S : ' the "From the La to You" No Dentist Visits Required" - w?-- " ‘On Too late to change ybiir windows this winter? Not if you give us a call We can upgrade most homes irt one day!: ’ - Natalia taylar LMT Call Today 770?5695 HARRIS nKNTURK DtSION Will lain lHarrlu-liftntrIlfltliirM" (208) 118221 1 (4JS) 7S2-IH- Uwalitl in Hyde Park I i‘S ' IP '?i j &r t m V J J JL Vfr'!' 'T-- jXus to day Tlicsb unique- pLotoraptiis were submitted by the Icraltl J(uriial rentiers and tell a n i n I e re s I i n j vi ct n rial liistriry of tlie: Valley I)on’t miss tlris opportunity to ivc ! I -- tliismiiquc'I iift to o liiAs s friciulor a i' j - rick a loved ' one : a Up tost ' ' ' ' i y - 'Mail Cost " Herald Journal 75 West 300 North 'V:: 752-212- 1 ALSO AVAILABLE AT: 29 So Main Logan The BookTabie THE PERFECT GIFT FOR ANYONE Quantity of copies to be picked up at The Herald Journal at $2995 Quantity to be shipped at I Hastings 70 E 400 N Logan Ordered by: NAME $3395 Total copies Total ($) enclosed' Make checks payable to: The Herald Journal RO Box 487 Logan UT attn: Angie Duncombe 84323-048- 7 included $4 shipping Ship to: NAME - ADDRESS CITY STATE PHONE KULUXB COT 21L Herald Journal -- ''jK |