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--></style><title>RE: Army Discharges Arabic-Speaking Soldier for
Being Gay</title></head><body>
<div>Lisa Pierce writes, "However, the only thing language
related in this was that he studied Arabic."</div>
<div><br></div>
<div>That's wrong.</div>
<div><br></div>
<div>This is a language policy list. The fact that the US government,
its military and its intelligence agencies do not possess the level or
amount of foreign language expertise that is required for national
security is a topic that is relevant for this list. The shortage has
been well-documented in the press and congressional hearings and is
driving research and spending by the federal government. I'll point
you to one <a
href="http://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htintel/articles/20060805.aspx"
>source</a> turned up in a Google search that says that the US
military needs 7200 Arabic linguists.</div>
<div><br></div>
<div>So the main issue here is the shortage of foreign language
experts, and any factors that perpetuate or reduce this shortage.
Copas not only "studied Arabic," he was an "Arabic
translator," and that makes this list a legitimate venue for
disseminating news articles about his firing. There is no opinion
about homosexual rights, either in the military or out of it, that's
implied in including such articles on this list -- in fact, the only
people I see who are bringing up the issue of gay rights are Pierce
and Hokanson. So yes: if you want to argue about gay rights, please go
somewhere else.</div>
<div><br></div>
<div>Michael Erard</div>
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