© 2023 St. Louis Public Radio
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
Other

In Iraq, interpreters fear for their lives, but are indispensable to troops

Fearing reprisals, Iraqi interpreters such as \"Peter\" prefer anonymity.
(photo: Adam Allington)
Fearing reprisals, Iraqi interpreters such as \"Peter\" prefer anonymity.

By Adam Allington, KWMU

http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kwmu/local-kwmu-659687.mp3

Ramadi, Iraq – In Iraq, qualified interpreters fill a vital support role for the U.S. military. In many ways, they do much more than translate.

Interpreters act as cultural bridges and advisers between two vastly different societies.

The work is extremely dangerous; interpreters and their families are often targets of insurgents.

KWMU's Adam Allington traveled to Iraq recently and spoke with an interpreter who goes simply by the name Peter .

Peter says when he first started working for the U.S. military in 2005, interpreters were in such short supply he would often work 24 hours at a stretch.

Other