Article

2008-02-25 Iraq

Iraqi interpreter enlists as a U.S. soldier

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Posted by lotp 2008-02-25 07:43|| || Front Page|| [8 views ] Top
File under: Iraqi Insurgency

#1 Another American born in the wrong place.

Posted by Mike 2008-02-25 08:21|| 2008-02-25 08:21|| Front Page Top

#2 Good man, I'm pleased he's here and is fitting in, but I'm wondering: an interpreter who speaks fluent English and Arabic can't find a job in the U.S.? Really? I thought the FBI and our military were desparate for Arabic speakers here stateside.

Posted by Steve White">Steve White 2008-02-25 09:52|| 2008-02-25 09:52|| Front Page Top

#3 Sounds like he's got limited horizons - only trying to be an interpreter. What's his degree in? LEWISTON, Maine? Needs to move to DC or something.

Posted by gromky 2008-02-25 10:46|| 2008-02-25 10:46|| Front Page Top

#4 Can illegal immigrants enlist in the US AF?

Posted by Spiny Gl 2511 2008-02-25 11:22|| 2008-02-25 11:22|| Front Page Top

#5 Many times technical as well as medical degrees are not recognized here. They have to start from scratch in their profession. Gromky is correct, they should have been located near federal facilities (DC?) that could use their skills. Sounds like a normal State Dept screwup to me. And more than one if there others there as well. Sounds like someone should get these folks in contact with the right HR departments. (Their biggest problem may be clearances)

Posted by Throger Thains8048 2008-02-25 14:22|| 2008-02-25 14:22|| Front Page Top

#6 Article: Enlisting would give them good benefits and put them on the path toward US citizenship while filling a need for the Army, Lt. Col. Anne Edgecomb says.

This is BS. Anyone who gets a green card can become a citizen after 5 years of US residency. Note that the green card doesn't need to be renewed and is valid for work and residency* in the US. It also makes the holder eligible for government assistance after a short waiting period. The point being that green card holders don't need citizenship for anything other than voting or holding positions that are sensitive for national security reasons. Why do I mention this? It annoys me that military recruiters consistently bring up what I consider a stupid and invalid reason for enlisting** - it makes them look moronic and dishonest.

* Green card holders are eligible for in-state tuition at state colleges, unlike illegal immigrants and foreign students on student visas.

** Green card holders enlist out of patriotism, not because they want to vote two years earlier than other green card holders. Note that it's a lot more of a hassle to deal with naturalization procedures when you're posted overseas. I've heard of GI's who have missed their interview dates because they were abroad when the interviews were scheduled.

Posted by Zhang Fei 2008-02-25 14:39|| http://timurileng.blogspot.com]">[http://timurileng.blogspot.com] 2008-02-25 14:39|| Front Page Top

#7 SW: I thought the FBI and our military were desparate for Arabic speakers here stateside.

I think they prefer American-born. Non-Arab if possible. An Iraqi who has relatives back home would be a major security risk.

Posted by Zhang Fei 2008-02-25 14:42|| http://timurileng.blogspot.com]">[http://timurileng.blogspot.com] 2008-02-25 14:42|| Front Page Top

#8 LEWISTON, Maine?

Catholic Relief Services most likely settled him in Lewiston. CRS has a scam going where they have settled a lot of Somali refugees in Lewiston Maine. The word got out about Maine's generous welfare payments and and Somali clans have migrated to Lewiston and are sucking it dry.
Somali migration transforms Lewiston

Posted by ed 2008-02-25 22:46|| 2008-02-25 22:46|| Front Page Top

#9 Green card holders in the military are eligible for citizenship after 3 years.

Posted by ed 2008-02-25 22:49|| 2008-02-25 22:49|| Front Page Top

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