Ten Years After 9/11, America Still Has a Language Problem

Tomorrow is zero hour." These are the words of warning that were issued in a communication from al-Qaeda operatives on September 10, 2001. The message, written in Arabic, was intercepted successfully by U.S. intelligence on the same day. U.S. intelligence did not translate the message until September 12, the day after the terrorist attacks.


America has a language problem, one that has not been solved in the decade since 9/11 took place. In the past 10 years, multi-billion-dollar contracts have been issued to defense contractors in order to provide interpreters and translators in battle in Iraq and Afghanistan. Hundreds of millions of dollars more were spent on interpreters for Guantanamo. Major sums have also been spent on contracts for purposes of intelligence gathering in other languages. Yet, in spite of attempts to douse these linguistic fires with a financial fire hose, the flames keep burning.

Who's going to put out the blaze? Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta intends to try. Panetta is originally from Monterey, Calif., home to the prestigious Monterey Institute of International Studies, a veritable hub for linguistic talent. Its alumni go on to interpret and translate for high-ranking officials at organizations like the Department of State and the United Nations.

Monterey is also home to the Defense Language Institute, which trains military personnel in foreign languages. In fact, it was here that Panetta spoke just two weeks ago, addressing 3,500 students and faculty members. He emphasized that language skills are crucial to national security. Panetta has been an advocate for foreign-language training throughout his career, dating back to when he served on a commission as a congressman under the Carter administration.

Panetta's support for language training is commendable, but language training alone is not a viable solution to such an urgent problem. It takes many years to become fully fluent in a foreign language. Helping more students become fluent in languages like Arabic is important, but it does not help the government address immediate backlogs of in-language documents that await translation. For example, from 2006 to 2008, the CIA collected 46 million files but left one-third of these untouched, due in great part to the lack of translation resources. Since then, no major accomplishments have been reached that would dramatically improve the recruitment of linguistic talent for intelligence agencies.

Yet, the United States is rich in natural language resources. According to Census data, nearly one in five people speaks a language other than English at home. More than half a million people living in the United States already count Arabic as their mother tongue. Rather than waiting another 10 years to train a generation of students in other languages, why not tap into the vast populations of people who already speak these languages? Teaching Anglos to learn foreign languages is never a bad idea. However, let's also keep Americans from forgetting the languages they already know.

A telling example of our society's views toward language was seen recently when Mayor Bloomberg spoke Spanish to residents of New York City in advance of Hurricane Irene. He quickly became the subject of ridicule, as people mocked his pronunciation instead of appreciating the fact that his message went out in a language that is spoken by millions of people likely to be affected by the storm.

The government needs to do a better job of ensuring linguistic preparedness. However, as a society in general, America needs to overhaul its attitude toward language. And that starts with the people.

Nataly Kelly

Huffington Post

Translator/Interpreter (FSN-07) job with U.S. Embassy in Afghanistan

The incumbent is responsible to provides written translation from Dari / Pashto into English and from English into Dari/Pashto of broadcast and print media reports, Washington files articles, electronic jounal articles, speeches and other U.S government materials. Edits the translated Dari and Pashto texts. Works closely with the Information Specialist to review daily media outputs and products such as daily media summaries. Routinely demonstrates mastery of complex terminology in order to trasmit both meaning and tone correctly. As needed, translates correspondence covering other Public Affairs Section functions, including information, library, cultural, educational/exchanges and administrative.


Duties also include, to supports the range of mission media events by providing oral translations from English to Dari/Pashto or from Dari/Pashto to English. Media events supported include but are not limited to press conferences, interviews, roundtable discussions and digital videoconferences. Prepares transcriptions of such events in English, Dari or Pashto as needed. As directed, attends Public Affairs related meetings, appointments and other events to provide interpretation and other duties as assigned.

Know more about this job

Afghan interpreters say they’re abandoned by Canada

KANDAHAR—Sayed Shah Sharifi heard a lot of reassuring words from Canadian soldiers during the three years he served under fire, or constant threat of Taliban retaliation, as a battlefield interpreter.


Whether he was pinned down for days in an ambush, stinking of his own sweat and fear, or enduring the dagger stares of Taliban prisoners under questioning by Canadians, the reassuring promises were always the same.

“Most of them were always telling us, ‘You guys are lucky. You guys are going to Canada. The Canadian government is starting a process that will get you into Canada in a month!’ “said Sharifi, 23.

He took that as a promise. It’s one Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s government hasn’t kept.

Immigration Minister Jason Kenney announced a special visa program two years ago to reward and protect Afghan interpreters who were critical to Canada’s military and aid missions here.

Other Afghans who worked in direct support of the Canadian government in Kandahar province, as well as spouses of any who died because of it, are also eligible for visas under the special program.

Kenney said in September 2009 that he expected “a few hundred” to qualify by the time the program ends this month, as the last Canadian combat troops leave. His ministry estimated applicants would only have to wait an average six months to a year.

But almost two years later, only 60 Afghans have made it to Canada under the special visa program. More than 475 Afghans applied, ministry spokesperson Rachelle Bédard said from Ottawa.

Sharifi, and fellow interpreter Zobaidullah Zobaidi Afghan, 25, say they’ve been told to provide more evidence to Canadian authorities that their lives are at risk even though they live in the insurgents’ heartland.

Zobaidi says the Taliban pinned a “night letter” to his door on October 29 warning he would be killed if he didn’t quit. He kept working and gave the letter to his Canadian supervisor, who advised Zobaidi to change the route he took to the base, he said.

On April 28, while he was driving back to Kandahar city from a remote district on the Pakistan border, where he monitored schools built by the Canadian International Development Agency, a car rammed him from behind.

“I saw they had a pistol,” he told me. “I accelerated and tried to escape, but they followed me. As I reached a nearby police checkpoint, they slipped away.”

Zobaidi’s first visa application was rejected. He has applied again, trying to meet the Canadian government’s burden of proof that his life is in danger.

For anyone who has spent any time in Kandahar city, without the protection of blast walls, soldiers or military armour, it would be hard to believe that Zobaidi and Sharif aren’t in danger.

Every week, Taliban death squads murder several people who have worked with foreigners, the Afghan government or even loosely linked village bodies.

“Most of my friends started working up to one year after me,” Sharifi said. “But they’re in Toronto now. They’re not from Kandahar, but they’re lives are ‘in danger.’ We are from Kandahar, but our lives are not in danger?

Read the entire article at The Star