Joseph said doing translations on the many thousands of documents would use up too many of limited government resources. He also feels that our government has moved beyond Saddam Hussein, that the lack of massive stockpiles of weapons of mass destruction was somewhat of an embarrassment best not dwelt on. Shahda also suggested that government bureaucrats in agencies that would be charged with this task tend to be somewhat arrogant, deeming the job beneath them and not worth the bother.
I’d have to agree with Joseph in that Arab-English translators are at a premium and likely needed more in the ongoing conflict in the Middle East than in the translation of documents from times past. In addition, each translation might require at least two translations of each document to ensure accuracy.
Some would argue this is also an issue with citizen translators but Joseph assured me that he is extremely careful with his translations and welcomes any additional translations alongside his own. In fact, I was privy to a FreeRepublic thread in which Joseph made a typing error, of all things, in his translation. He omitted the word “not” in a sentence. Shahda immediately informed the FreeRepublic moderators of the error. It was quickly corrected and any comments made based on his typing error were removed from the thread. I was impressed with the speed with which all this was handled and the care taken by both Joseph and FreeRepublic to insure the data was accurate. The entire episode left me with a confident feeling of credibility on the matter. I’d argue we are in the midst of some serious history-making and we are learning as we go.
I asked Shahda which of his then ten translations were most startling to him.
Joseph indicated the following two translations:
Saddam Regime Document: Iraqi Intelligence met with Bin Laden in 1995
and
Afghani Taliban Consul Spoke of a Relationship Between Iraq and Bin Laden
With each translation, Shahda includes the Pentagon number assigned to the document and provides details about what sort of document is being translated, whether a memo or a letter on official letterhead. He indicates which paragraphs he is translating by meticulous paragraph lettering and details who wrote the letter and to whom it is addressed. If the document being translated is vague or unclear in terms of recipient or writer, Shahda so states. Joseph is very careful to make it clear to the reader only what he translates and avoids any editorial insertion into his translations.
Article comments
1 - Dave Nalle
Amazing stuff, Pat. Thanks for posting the links. I hope you'll keep us updated. Wish I could comment on Free Republic, but I've been permanently banned for being too liberal.
Of the documents translated thus far, many are just confirmation of things we already knew, but #3 and #4 of your links above are very significant because of their late dates, especially #4 which seems to refer to the mobile WMD labs which everyone has been denying the existence of.
Dave
2 - Pat Fish
Go on, Dave. YOU were too liberal for FreeRepublic? Wow.
And you got "zotted"?
Heh.
3 - Dave Nalle
Perhaps it was that I was too Libertarian. They tend to be pretty hard line religious right types.
I find their way of banning people particularly annoying. They ban your IP in such a way that you can't even respond to the message they send you telling you that you've been banned or use the email link on the site. And then they don't respond to emails sent by any other means, not even to tell you WHY you got banned.
Dave
4 - sujatha
Pat, this is "history-making" all right. An eye-opener this one. Thanks.
5 - Ruvy in Jerusalem
Pat, I haven't read the links yet, but given all the arguments over Iraq, I hope people take the trouble to go to this article to get to the links and READ them.
Mazel Tov! You did a great job.
Shabbat Shalom,
Reuven
6 - fntstc4
I am unclear as to Iraq's development of anthrax under Saddam. Did he or didn't he develop and use anthrax? Does anybody out there know this answer?
7 - Dave Nalle
He definitely HAD live anthrax and within the last 5 years. That's been definitively established by these documents. And if he had the anthrax that means he had to also have the labs and facilities to keep the culture alive, and that suggests that he had the capability to weaponize it. The accepted view seems to be that he did not produce weaponized anthrax in substantial volume, however.
Dave
8 - Stephen
Iraq only ever produced liquid bulk anthrax with a 2/3-year shelf life. Its last remaining stocks were unilaterally destroyed in 1991.