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TheRealMafoo said:
steven787 said:
Think of it this way, if we had gone into Iraq and Afghanistan with thousands instead of dozens of translators and the state department, then we would have saved billions of dollars. We knew we had to win the hearts and minds of Iraqis and Afghans, and Bush tried to do it with guns... that's not very smart or well thought out. Obama is the most "well thought out" person I've ever seen; I don't think anyone could argue against that reasonably, say whatever else you will.

 

I hope Obama would have had a better plan then you.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/2005-05-21-translator-deaths_x.htm

"It's one of the most dangerous civilian jobs in one of the world's most dangerous countries: translating Arabic for the U.S. military in Iraq.

One by one, little noticed in the daily mayhem, dozens of interpreters have been killed — mostly Iraqis but 12 Americans, too. They account for 40% of the 300-plus death claims filed by private contractors with the U.S. Labor Department."

That's 120 dead, I guess that's not enough for you?

But that's the past. Unless Obama can travel back in time, it has no baring on what he will do.

 

EDIT: Oh, and by the way, from that same article:

More than 4,000 translators work for San Diego, Calif.-based Titan, which supplies the U.S. military with Arabic- and Kurdish-speaking linguists.

So I guess you think Bush is as smart and as well thought out as Obama, being he did go into Iraq and Afghanistan with thousands?

 

1st - Obama is talking about Military trained translators.  That is 1/3 of the formula. Training for the military.  Translators from the state department.  More translators total.

2nd - 4000 work for Titan, it doesn't say how many are there at a single time.  The other issue is present tense, we did not have 4000 translators on the day they stormed in and blew up all the infrastructure.  If someone came in, blew up your power plant, your sewage plant, and your hospital (where Saddam's men were supposedly hiding) how are you supposed to know hat they aren't there to kill you, if none of them speak your language?

 

You did not read Obama's statements and you didn't use critical thinking on your own source.  If you're going to continue to do that even after the election, than do not reply to my posts, please.  Save that for somebody else.



I would cite regulation, but I know you will simply ignore it.