No Hablo Arabic: Clinton's Failure on CIA Translators

Washington Times via Frontpagemag.com ^ | 9/04/03 | Richard Miniter

[tdadams]

Well, not to stir up a hornet's nest, but we've had a few Arabic translators who were discharged despite the critical need. Almost everyone here seemed to think that was great, no matter what kind of national security threat it posed. Policy before sensibility, I suppose.

[tdadams]

Mr. Woolsey estimates that two-thirds of all his meetings on Capitol Hill were about undoing spending cuts proposed by DeConcini, then a key Senate Appropriations Subcommittee chairman.

It's nothing less than treasonous that America's security should be jeopardized because of one stubborn Democrat's personal vindictive tiff with the CIA director.

[Diogenesis]

There is more than one.

[MarkT]

When the DCI does not and cannot have direct and immediate access to the WH, then something is horribly wrong. I have read that Clinton only met with the DCI (there were three, I believe, during Clinton's tenure) two times in eight years - can that be confirmed? If so, that is so recklessly indifferent to the security needs of the country, the ex-Pres. should be hauld before a tribunal and convicted of treason.

[alloysteel]

Gentlemen do not read other gentlemen's mail. And with this attitude, surveillance is sharply discouraged. The only problems with this attitude, is that our side was being represented by scoundrels pretending to be gentlemen at the time, and the other side was reading our mail regularly.

[af_vet_1981]

Well, not to stir up a hornet's nest, but we've had a few Arabic translators who were discharged despite the critical need. Almost everyone here seemed to think that was great, no matter what kind of national security threat it posed. Policy before sensibility, I suppose.

They were not a few Arabic translators, they were students at DLI and a far cry from being Arabic translators.

[mewzilla]

More translators, back then anyway, wouldn't have mattered.

[tdadams]

They were not a few Arabic translators, they were students at DLI and a far cry from being Arabic translators.

Wow, talk about splitting hairs. DLI is the miltary's top linguistics training institute. Six fewer Arabic translators working for America's security is the bottom line.

[af_vet_1981]

Wow, talk about splitting hairs. DLI is the miltary's top linguistics training institute. Six fewer Arabic translators working for America's security is the bottom line.

Look, just admit you are wrong and be done with it.

Oh, and next time you need surgery, call a pre-med student at one of the nations top universities.

[tdadams]

Look, just admit you are wrong and be done with it.

Admit I'm wrong? Why on earth would I admit I'm wrong when I'm exactly right.

What do you think students at DLI become in a year or two? Translators. Needlessly ejecting them from the military deprives the U.S. government of a valuable resource.

[CalvaryJohn]

This is a huge problem. We are missing out on vital intelligence due to this.

[af_vet_1981]

Admit I'm wrong? Why on earth would I admit I'm wrong when I'm exactly right.

What do you think students at DLI become in a year or two? Translators.

Students

Needlessly ejecting them from the military deprives the U.S. government of a valuable resource.

They are not needlessly ejected and there are always other candidates to take their places.

The real issues for translators revolve around education and training, remuneration, and security issues. Washouts are expected at DLI. The last thing we need are more gays and liberals polluting the Services.

[af_vet_1981]

hugh and series

[tdadams]

The last thing we need is perfectly qualified linguistic students being ejected, at great expense and loss of resources, when the U.S. obviously needs every single Arabic translator it can get and then some.

[af_vet_1981]

The last thing we need is perfectly qualified linguistic students being ejected, at great expense and loss of resources, when the U.S. obviously needs every single Arabic translator it can get and then some.

Look, we both know you don't know what you are talking about and I know that I know what I'm talking about.

[mickie]

"U.S. needs every single Arabic translator it can get"

And we better get them fast because the War on Terror is only starting........there is a long way to go!

[yoe]

Clinton was so indecisive about security matters, one wonders why - and what was he snorting or smoking at the time along with his other activities of pleasure? He clearly was not interested in the Oval Office job description the people elected him for. Mrs. Clinton was no better at anything she attempted, she can’t even write a book with out others doing it for her – ‘ya know?

[af_vet_1981]

Clinton was so indecisive about security matters

That is one way to look at it. Another way is that Bill and Hillary were intent on recruiting and/or appointing certain classes and types of people into agencies whose business should be security.

[yoe]

Okay, do you mean unqualified lackeys who would not make waves, exposing the Clinton’s turbulence in ‘their presidency’? I’d go along with that. Mrs. Clinton’s Dereliction of Duty is quite clear in up-state NY – again her personal life i.e., book signing cum campaigning, is taking up her time as junior senator, while still finding the time to slam the Bush administration for things that are not true, but nothing of importance for NY.