Reply #32: Absolutely, the language problem can't be underestimated

[teryang]

this is a ground level problem that goes everywhere with US forces on the ground. I have little doubt that thousands perish because of the language problem.

Not knowing the language in a hostile environment creates a level of paranoia that is difficult to imagine. So they do shoot at families in cars who don't respond to instructions in English.

Or you could rely on your iraqi interpreter? Who does he work for? What does he know?

As one American colonel said, what these "Iraqi" forces do between 12pm and 6am is anyone's guess.