Posted on 11/18/2008 7:20:35 PM PST by Avoiding_Sulla
BAGHDAD The U.S. military has barred Iraqi interpreters working with American troops in Baghdad from wearing ski masks to disguise themselves, prompting some to resign and others to bare their faces even though they fear it could get them killed.
--snip--
The terps are the number one wanted here, said A.J., a 36-year-old military interpreter, using the shorthand for his profession. More than the Americans. More than anyone.
--snip--
U.S. military officials said they began to enforce the mask ban in September.
We are a professional Army and professional units dont conceal their identity by wearing masks, Lt. Col. Steve Stover, a spokesman for the U.S. military, wrote in an e-mail.
(Excerpt) Read more at thenewstribune.com ...
In addition to the interpreters being at risk for helping our GIs, their families and towns are also threatened by terrorists looking to intimidate the terps into quitting or turn double agent.
Perhaps they need to let the various SWAT teams across our nation know that.
So will we see names of soldiers in those elite units we don’t talk about.
As Tonto used to say in the old joke, “Who’s that ‘we,’ Lone Ranger?”
The military has a perfect right to insist that our own men should not go masked, but I’m not sure why that should be forced upon Iraqi interpreters who will be left behind when we depart from Iraq—or foolishly brought back with us to the US when we leave. They belong there in Iraq, their own country, and they should have some room to make their own rational decisions.
I wonder what the genesis of this redicuous order is?
WTF? Who is this a$$? So I guess no one in the US military, no matter how secret can wear a mask? Sounds like he's kowtowing to "the one" before he's even elected.
Can we get more info on this
sounds like somebody is deliberatly trying to get the iraqi interperters killed
I’m assuming this individual doesn’t value the “terps.”
Bullsh1t. Military can wear so much gear you can’t tell who the hell it is.
You can employ common sense. Keep your assets alive. Make the exception for these guys. they are helping us. Let’s try do one small thing to help keep them alive helping us.
So, let the terps paint their faces with camo paint. Various lines & colors combined can mask facial features.
LTC Stover’s comment certainly seems the essence of REMF.
However, he’s only identified as the army spokesman. Who are the higher ups who issued the order? Whomever it is seems not only not to value the terps, they sure have a funny way of showing gratitude for all they’ve done.
These orders are so bizarre it’s as if they were issued by the other side they .
That would work. I’d be for that option too. Probably better, in some aspects.
I met an asshole like this Colonel on my first day in Saigon. He didn’t mind getting a bunch of civilians killed because he refused to give them press credentials (Bao Chi) which could help them in a bad situation. Each had a letter from a legitimate newspaper asking for credentials as they would be writing for them.
Fortunately I got mine early at the Pentagon where I was a correspondent for a national weekly, and where the staff were competent and helpful.
I told him (at JUSPAO I) to shove mine and walked away. The South Vietnamese, in a few minutes, got us their press passes and we felt a lot safer. Went throughout a lot of So. Vietnam without even an armed escort and never had any trouble, though a couple weeks later, a priest was killed by the VC/NVA on the same road we had travelled.
They blew his station wagon apart with an RPG though they knew he was a priest.
Sometimes our own people are out own worst enemy. Some day I will tell you about my current problems with a major govt institution who doesn’t realize that we are working for the same boss, the American people.
Sounds like it. Hope it’s bs.
What kind of absolute horse sh*t is this????
with a bottle of alcohol and a pistol with one bullet like the Prussians were said to do to stupid/incompetent, or cowardly officers
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