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Ban on masks upsets Iraqi interpreters [Troop Endangerment]
The Washington Post by way of The News Tribune ^ | November 17th, 2008 | Ernesto Londono

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 don’t 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 ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: 200809; anonymity; frontpagenews; interpreters; iraq; iraqiinterpreters; masks; oif; remf; troops; wot
H/T Belmont Club

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.

1 posted on 11/18/2008 7:20:35 PM PST by Avoiding_Sulla
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To: Avoiding_Sulla
professional units don’t conceal their identity by wearing masks,

Perhaps they need to let the various SWAT teams across our nation know that.

2 posted on 11/18/2008 7:22:56 PM PST by zeugma (Who is John Galt?)
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To: zeugma

So will we see names of soldiers in those elite units we don’t talk about.


3 posted on 11/18/2008 7:24:49 PM PST by art_rocks
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To: Avoiding_Sulla

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.


4 posted on 11/18/2008 7:28:21 PM PST by Cicero (Marcus Tullius)
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To: Avoiding_Sulla

I wonder what the genesis of this redicuous order is?


5 posted on 11/18/2008 7:31:55 PM PST by ZULU (Non nobis, non nobis Domine, sed nomini tuo da gloriam. God, guts and guns made America great.)
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To: Avoiding_Sulla
“We are a professional Army and professional units don’t conceal their identity by wearing masks,” Lt. Col. Steve Stover, a spokesman for the U.S. military, wrote in an e-mail. He expressed appreciation for the service and sacrifice of the interpreters but said those dissatisfied with the new policy “can seek alternative employment.”

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.

6 posted on 11/18/2008 7:38:57 PM PST by Eagles6 ( Typical White Guy: Christian, Constitutionalist, Heterosexual, Redneck)
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To: Eagles6

Can we get more info on this
sounds like somebody is deliberatly trying to get the iraqi interperters killed


7 posted on 11/18/2008 7:56:29 PM PST by Charlespg (Peace= When we trod the ruins of Mecca and Medina under our infidel boots.)
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To: Avoiding_Sulla

I’m assuming this individual doesn’t value the “terps.”


8 posted on 11/18/2008 8:11:40 PM PST by TNdandelion (This should be fun.)
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To: Avoiding_Sulla

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.


9 posted on 11/18/2008 8:14:39 PM PST by Secret Agent Man (I'd like to tell you, but then I'd have to kill you.)
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To: Avoiding_Sulla

So, let the terps paint their faces with camo paint. Various lines & colors combined can mask facial features.


10 posted on 11/18/2008 8:19:54 PM PST by Mister Da (The mark of a wise man is not what he knows, but what he knows he doesn't know!)
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To: TNdandelion

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 .


11 posted on 11/18/2008 8:28:51 PM PST by Avoiding_Sulla (Yesterday's Left = today's status quo. Thus "CONSERVATIVE": a conflicted label for battling tyranny.)
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To: Mister Da

That would work. I’d be for that option too. Probably better, in some aspects.


12 posted on 11/18/2008 8:30:55 PM PST by Secret Agent Man (I'd like to tell you, but then I'd have to kill you.)
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To: TNdandelion

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.


13 posted on 11/18/2008 8:33:25 PM PST by MadMax, the Grinning Reaper
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To: Charlespg

Sounds like it. Hope it’s bs.


14 posted on 11/18/2008 9:28:03 PM PST by Eagles6 ( Typical White Guy: Christian, Constitutionalist, Heterosexual, Redneck)
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To: MadMax, the Grinning Reaper
Thanks for that validation MadMax, the Grinning Reaper.
15 posted on 11/18/2008 9:42:41 PM PST by LuxMaker (The Constitution is a mere thing of wax in the hands of the judiciary, Thomas J 1819)
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To: Avoiding_Sulla

What kind of absolute horse sh*t is this????


16 posted on 11/19/2008 12:32:01 AM PST by Jack Hammer (here)
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To: Eagles6
If its true
the officer or person responsible should be locked in a empty cell

with a bottle of alcohol and a pistol with one bullet like the Prussians were said to do to stupid/incompetent, or cowardly officers

17 posted on 11/19/2008 8:08:44 AM PST by Charlespg (Peace= When we trod the ruins of Mecca and Medina under our infidel boots.)
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