Follow BeltwayBlips on Twitter
Why ban masks for Iraqi interpreters?
democracyarsenal.org —
... The Washington Post reports that the US 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.” If the identities of these interpreters become widely know, the interpreters (and their families) become targets for violent reprisal. The only rationale cited by the article is a spokesman saying “We are a professional Army and professional units don't conceal their identity by wearing masks.” This ...
Military Changes
Taylor Marsh —
... On another front, the U.S. recently barred
Iraqi translators from wearing masks. When I first read it I gasped. Seems
like a good way to get your head blown off. ...
Members of Congress Urge Repeal of Mask Ban for Iraqi Interpreters
democracyarsenal.org —
... that “Thirteen members of Congress and an association of interpreters this week urged the Pentagon to rescind a policy that prohibits interpreters who work with U.S. troops in Baghdad from wearing ski masks to conceal their identity.” This comes only five days after an earlier Washington Post article describing the ban. The American Translators Association was especially troubled by this policy, and their spokesperson said "There seems to be a disconnect between the command and the people on the ground who appreciate what the interpreters are doing…We have received ...
