arabic - Page 8 of 9

FBI Unable to Attract Arabic Speakers

Staff / Truthdig Oct 11, 2006 According to new FBI statistics, of the bureau's 12,000 agents, only 33 speak even minimally functional Arabic. It gets worse: Of the 33, none work on international terrorism. (h/t: Think Progress) Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Arabic T-Shirt Keeps Man Off Plane

Staff / Truthdig Aug 29, 2006 An Iraqi architect at JFK Airport was wearing a shirt that read "We Will Not Be Silent" in Arabic and English. Security officers said it was upsetting other passengers, and said he couldn't board until he turned it inside-out or put on something else. He chose the latter. (Read his reaction after the jump) (h/t: Raw Story) This is pretty ridiculous: If security guards were worried that he was a terrorist, a new shirt wouldn't have thwarted his plot. And if they didn't suspect he was a terrorist, why can't he wear a shirt of protest? Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Today’s Blog Is Brought to You by the Number…

Staff / Truthdig Aug 11, 2006 That's the number of Arabic linguists who have been discharged from the Army for being gay Fifty-five (We missed this fact when we blogged about the latest dismissal -- interview here -- but it's so shocking we felt we had to bring it up now) If the military were serious about winning Iraqis' hearts and minds, it would find a way to keep most of these linguists in the service. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Anti-U.S. Feeling Leaves Arab Reformers Isolated

Staff / Truthdig Aug 9, 2006 From the N Times: "Moderate reformers across the Arab world say American support for Israel?s battle with Hezbollah has put them on the defensive, tarring them by association and boosting Islamist parties" As usual, it comes back to America's unflinching support of Israel, and Muslim fury at Israeli occupation of Arab lands . Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

More on the Army’s Fired Gay Linguist

Staff / Truthdig Aug 7, 2006 He had one of the most sought-after skills in the entire U.S. arsenal: a working knowledge of Arabic. And the Army discharged him for being gay -- after subjecting him to witch-hunt-style questioning. ABC News interviews him. (Earlier: original story) Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Army Dismisses Gay Arabic Linguist

Staff / Truthdig Jul 28, 2006 A decorated sergeant and Arabic language specialist was discharged after an investigation determined that he was gay. He alleges his commanding officer blatantly violated the "don't ask, don't tell" policy, and that investigators asked him if he had close friends who were gay, and if he was involved in community theater. Thank goodness our military is on top of things. We've got too damned many Arabic linguists in the service these days. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Arab Support Swings to Hezbollah

Staff / Truthdig Jul 28, 2006 Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia have all started sounding off about Israeli aggression. And even Al Qaeda, which is normally hostile to all Shiite groups, has thrown its support behind the militants fighting against the vaunted Israeli military. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Sectarian Blood Bath Drenches Baghdad

Staff / Truthdig Jul 12, 2006 Over 100 people were killed in a three-day stretch A N Times reporter writes, "Militias now appear to be dictating the ebb and flow of life in Iraq". Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

‘Fake Sheikh’ Reporter Gets Taste of His Own Medicine

Staff / Truthdig Apr 17, 2006 Mazher Mahmood, a British reporter who dresses up as a wealthy Arab businessman to entrap high-profile victims in sting operations, has been publicly outed by a member of Parliament N Times story 'Fake Sheikh' home page (created by the MP) . Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )