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Sad Times For Relocated Iraqi Tranlator

By TChris, Section War In Iraq
Posted on Fri Jun 13, 2008 at 01:28:36 PM EST
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This sad story is just one of thousands that resulted from the war in Iraq.

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    Sad Times For Relocated Iraqi Tranlator | 17 comments (17 topical)

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    Here is a recent NYT article on (none / 0) (#1)
    by oculus on Fri Jun 13, 2008 at 01:41:25 PM EST
    Iraqi translators, including a man whom a U.S. military man helped get to the U.S.  But, the best job offer the translator could get was to go back to Iraq as a translator.

    NYT

    I think NPR also covered this sad tale... (none / 0) (#15)
    by jawbone on Fri Jun 13, 2008 at 06:25:12 PM EST


    Parent
    The Iraq War....the gift that keeps on (none / 0) (#2)
    by PssttCmere08 on Fri Jun 13, 2008 at 01:47:09 PM EST
    giving...and not in a good way.

    Very sad (none / 0) (#4)
    by stefystef on Fri Jun 13, 2008 at 01:58:15 PM EST
    Shows you how uncaring and lack of understanding of Iraqi/Muslim culture when placing these people in an community/enviroment that goes against Islamic traditions.

    Why couldn't he be placed in a community with a large Muslim population?  This could have been handled in a much better way.  Hopefully, this article will bring attention to this brave people who suffered so much for the follies of Bush and Blair.

    London has a huge (none / 0) (#9)
    by JavaCityPal on Fri Jun 13, 2008 at 02:39:52 PM EST
    Muslim, Middle Eastern population. They could easily have found them someplace where they would feel comfortable and appropriately thanked for their valuable service.


    Parent
    TChris, OT, but a diary on this might be good. (none / 0) (#5)
    by BarnBabe on Fri Jun 13, 2008 at 02:00:01 PM EST
    Former Manson family member Susan Atkins has requested a "compassionate release" from prison because she has less than six months to live, a California prisons spokeswoman said Friday.
    I believe this would be a interesting discussion.

    Might as well let her out... (5.00 / 1) (#6)
    by stefystef on Fri Jun 13, 2008 at 02:20:40 PM EST
    There is no use for her to stay and die in jail.
    I think she has paid her debt to society all ready.

    I remember many years ago, Diane Sawyer did an interview with all the Manson girls and Charlie himself.

    A couple of things struck me... first off, how those young girls, brainwashed and full of arrogance had become middle aged women who looked like housewives and soccer moms.

    The other thing that really struck me was when Diane was interviewing Charlie Manson, he had a chance to watch the interview with the Manson girls.  You know what he said???

    He said, "Damn, they got old".

    I couldn't believe my ears.  Can you believe that $%*(&???  Charles Manson- old, nasty, broken down and busted crazy bastard actually criticized these women for their look, like he didn't get old too.  And he acted as if they were just as crazy as him and that they wanted to do what they did.  He had no responsibility over their actions.  Manson may be crazy, but the bastard sure is entertaining.

    Well, James Brown was right... "It's a Man's World".

    I hope the woman is let out to die with some dignity.  You can only punish so much.

    Parent

    This might sound harsh.... (none / 0) (#7)
    by kdog on Fri Jun 13, 2008 at 02:33:02 PM EST
    but I'm having trouble finding sympathy here.

    If a foreign power invaded my country, and some of my countrymen went to work for the occupiers as translators, I'd wish for them a lot worse than this translator is dealing with.

    He should be sorry he helped the British...as French translators should have been for helping the Germans.  Am I wrong?

    Are you kidding? (none / 0) (#10)
    by JavaCityPal on Fri Jun 13, 2008 at 02:41:05 PM EST
    Those translators probably spent more time stopping violence than anything else they did.


    Parent
    Not kidding... (none / 0) (#12)
    by kdog on Fri Jun 13, 2008 at 02:47:16 PM EST
    I don't doubt their aims were true...but as a rule shouldn't any self-respecting citizen of any nation refuse to cooperate with occupiers, even so-called benevolent occupiers?  Also, he could have worked to benefit his country and fellow Iraqis without getting in bed with the British.

     You reap what you sow as they say...lie down with dogs, come up with fleas.  I won't work for my own government because I don't support how they do...nevermind working for a foreign power.

    Parent

    Good guys (none / 0) (#14)
    by Lora on Fri Jun 13, 2008 at 05:38:00 PM EST
    Unlike the Germans, the British, like us, were supposed to be the Good Guys.

    The Coalition Forces made some promises to the Iraqi people, remember?  They were going to rid them of a despot and give them a better government.

    I wouldn't assume that this Iraqi was acting in an unpatriotic way.  Perhaps he was convinced that this way was the best for his country.

    In any case, for the British to treat so shabbily someone who risked his life and lost so much to help their cause, is shameful.

    Parent

    "Supposed to be"... (none / 0) (#17)
    by kdog on Sat Jun 14, 2008 at 09:08:16 AM EST
    ain't that the truth.  Though I'm sure the Germans thought they were the good guys too...as we think we are the good guys now and were the good guys in Vietnam.  I don't think we're so good.

    I'm not defending the treatment of this man, sounds like he's got a legit beef that promises were not lived up to.  I'm just saying I'm having trouble finding the sympathy for him than I have for the many other victims of this war and occupation.

    Parent

    Their translation gift probably (none / 0) (#16)
    by JavaCityPal on Fri Jun 13, 2008 at 07:34:31 PM EST
    saved thousands of Iraqi citizens. The troops were dependent on trustworthy Iraqi citizens for pointing them to the bad guys and stopping them from guessing what the people were saying.

    No. I would be extremely grateful for an interpreter if a group of armed military soldiers who couldn't speak my language were trying to get me to prove my innocence against their guns.

    Parent

    See your point.... (none / 0) (#18)
    by kdog on Sat Jun 14, 2008 at 09:10:00 AM EST
    Saving lives is always good.

    Just thinking what I would do if tanks under a foreign flag rolled through my neighborhood...I'd band with the resistance and not look kindly on those who sided with the invaders.

    Parent

    The underscore to your sentiment is (none / 0) (#8)
    by JavaCityPal on Fri Jun 13, 2008 at 02:38:12 PM EST
    who is treating them this way. The British and the Americans. Aren't we supposed to be the civil ones?
    Tim Russert just died of a heart attack (none / 0) (#11)
    by JavaCityPal on Fri Jun 13, 2008 at 02:41:44 PM EST


    I'm in shock! (none / 0) (#13)
    by stefystef on Fri Jun 13, 2008 at 02:48:38 PM EST
    Total shock!!!

    They just broke in the news on TV.

    Parent

    Sad Times For Relocated Iraqi Tranlator | 17 comments (17 topical)

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