Breaking News: [US] Air Force Officer Speaks Pashto!

[Francis Hult]

Wired

 

Breaking News: Air Force Officer Speaks Pashto!

 

File this one under "pet peeves." American Forces Network Afghanistan just posted a video: "The Zabul Provincial Reconstruction Team's public information officer speaks Pashto!"

 

The fact that this is considered newsworthy and exceptional - a U.S. military officer speaks one of the official languages of Afghanistan! - doesn't reflect well on the national commitment to Afghanistan. Eight years after its involvement in Afghanistan began, the U.S. military still relies overwhelmingly on contract interpreters, and troops by and large aren't equipped with survival-level Dari or Pashto. Why don't all of the PRT team members speak the local lingo?

 

Full story:

http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2009/10/breaking-news-air-force-officer-speaks-pashto/

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