An Iraqi Interpreter’s Story
Listen
Hour 2
American forces in Iraq and Afghanistan depend on Arabic translators. However, being an Iraqi interpreter for the U.S. military is a dangerous job. Dozens of translators have been killed by insurgents and many more targeted for their work with Americans. Safa Ismael worked as a translator for the U.S. military in Mosul for two years, despite threats to his life. After narrowly escaping a car bomb, Ismael decided he needed to leave Iraq. With the help of some of the American soldiers he worked with, Safa Ismael was granted a special VISA for translators and came to Philadelphia where he now lives and works. Today we’ll talk with Safa Ismael and two of the Americans who helped bring him here — State Representative Brian Lentz , who served in 416th Civil Affairs Battalion in Iraq and Lt Col Jeffrey Voice, a casulty assistance officer.
Listen:
[audio: 072010_110630.mp3]
WHYY is your source for fact-based, in-depth journalism and information. As a nonprofit organization, we rely on financial support from readers like you. Please give today.
Brought to you by Radio Times
Radio Times
WHYY's Radio Times is an engaging and timely call-in program that tackles wide-ranging issues of concern to listeners in the Delaware Valley.
Subscribe for free
A senior UN official says northern Gaza is now in ‘full-blown famine’
Cindy McCain said a cease-fire and a greatly increased flow of aid through land and sea routes was essential to confronting the growing humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.
1 week ago
Photo essay: Penn, Drexel and Temple students demand ceasefire in Gaza, establish encampment
Protests, sit-ins and encampments decrying the war in Gaza have swept university campuses across the U.S. Here’s how things unfolded in Philadelphia on Thursday, in photos.
2 weeks ago
Hundreds marched through Center City on Thursday, stopping at Philly campuses and City Hall, calling for a permanent ceasefire and demanding local divestment from Israel.
3 weeks ago
Listen 1:48