The need for Arabic speakers by the federal government and private companies, especially after 9/11, has skyrocketed, for good reasons of course.
United States of America (Press Release) September 10, 2007 --
IF YOU SPEAK ARABIC ... UNCLE SAM WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO YOU!
ARABIC SPEAKERS IN THE U.S.: FRIENDS OR FOES?
By Aladdin Elaasar
Few years ago, I was struck with awe when I read an ad in the American Translators Association’s magazine that read: If you speak Arabic, the FBI would like to speak to you! On the next page, there was another ad by none but the CIA. Yes, the Central Intelligence agency. That was way before 9/11. I was flattered to read those ads to know that speakers of my native tongue, Arabic, have been in need and the federal government wanted to hire them.
The need for Arabic speakers by the federal government and private companies, especially after 9/11, has skyrocketed, for good reasons of course. The 9/11 Commission, in its voluminous report, had concluded that the U.S. government has been in dire need of Arabic speakers to fill in the ranks of law enforcement, intelligence operatives, translators, cultural advisors, Arabic language instructors, and many related capacities.
But how come the federal government is still looking desperately for those Arabic speakers here to fill in those jobs!
Surfing through the net, one would find that many federal agencies are desperately looking for those well sought after candidates: the Coast Guard, the Army and its reserve, the Navy, the FBI, Homeland Security, the CIA, the NSA, the State Dept., and many others. But, a casual look into these ads that have been posted on the web reveal many eyebrow raising facts.
For starters, the military are asking young candidates who speak Arabic to enlist for an annual salary of about $18,000, plus benefits of course. But on the same page, you see other ads that offer a six figure salary, plus many other incentives! So you do the math: Who would a candidate who speaks Arabic go for? The private contractor or the military?
Would history reveal the efforts of Arab Americans helping the U.S. win the War on Terror? Would it also reveal that so many of them were wrongfully targeted by the same government, or sometimes, by fellow citizens?!
- END
Aladdin Elaasar is author of “Silent Victims: the Plight of Arab and Muslim Americans in post 9/11 America”. ". www.authorhouse.com/BookStore/ItemDetail.aspx
For more info, please contact:
Aladdin Elaasar
Email: omaraladin@aol.com
Call 847 668-4206
ARABIC SPEAKERS IN THE U.S.: FRIENDS OR FOES?
By Aladdin Elaasar
Few years ago, I was struck with awe when I read an ad in the American Translators Association’s magazine that read: If you speak Arabic, the FBI would like to speak to you! On the next page, there was another ad by none but the CIA. Yes, the Central Intelligence agency. That was way before 9/11. I was flattered to read those ads to know that speakers of my native tongue, Arabic, have been in need and the federal government wanted to hire them.
The need for Arabic speakers by the federal government and private companies, especially after 9/11, has skyrocketed, for good reasons of course. The 9/11 Commission, in its voluminous report, had concluded that the U.S. government has been in dire need of Arabic speakers to fill in the ranks of law enforcement, intelligence operatives, translators, cultural advisors, Arabic language instructors, and many related capacities.
But how come the federal government is still looking desperately for those Arabic speakers here to fill in those jobs!
Surfing through the net, one would find that many federal agencies are desperately looking for those well sought after candidates: the Coast Guard, the Army and its reserve, the Navy, the FBI, Homeland Security, the CIA, the NSA, the State Dept., and many others. But, a casual look into these ads that have been posted on the web reveal many eyebrow raising facts.
For starters, the military are asking young candidates who speak Arabic to enlist for an annual salary of about $18,000, plus benefits of course. But on the same page, you see other ads that offer a six figure salary, plus many other incentives! So you do the math: Who would a candidate who speaks Arabic go for? The private contractor or the military?
Would history reveal the efforts of Arab Americans helping the U.S. win the War on Terror? Would it also reveal that so many of them were wrongfully targeted by the same government, or sometimes, by fellow citizens?!
- END
Aladdin Elaasar is author of “Silent Victims: the Plight of Arab and Muslim Americans in post 9/11 America”. ". www.authorhouse.com/BookStore/ItemDetail.aspx
For more info, please contact:
Aladdin Elaasar
Email: omaraladin@aol.com
Call 847 668-4206
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