The Role of Interpreters in Afghanistan

I recently posted on how the US government is addressing a shortage of translators and interpreters in its efforts in the Middle East, most notably Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Today, Joshua Foust in the New York Times gives us a glimpse into the reality of how interpreters work with the military in these countries. The stories are raw and even this small sampling shows the vast difference between acting as an interpreter at a conference and living as an interpreter on a military mission in Afghanistan. It’s a great read.

I would also like to take this time to lament the loss of Sultan Munadi, an interpreter who was killed when British forces were working to save New York Times reporter Stephen Farrell.

Sultan MunadiSultan Munadi