DoD Remains Strategically Tongue-tied

[unhappycamper]

DoD Remains Strategically Tongue-tied
September 23, 2008
International Herald Tribune

Three years ago, the Defense Department set out to increase sharply the number of military personnel who speak strategically important languages. Progress has been slow, and the military has not determined how to reach its goal - or what exactly that goal is.

Figures from the department indicate that only 1.2 percent of the military receives the bonus paid to those who can speak languages judged to be of critical importance for the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq, as well as for other areas of strategic concern.

John Nagl, a retired lieutenant colonel who is co-author of the U.S. Army's new counterinsurgency field manual, said in an interview that the military had been moving too slowly, and he questioned its assertion that language needs were difficult to assess since they were subject to changing global security conditions.

The military by now should "have a pretty good idea of what countries we're fighting in," he said.

Nagl, a fellow with the Center for a New American Security, said the army understood the value of having more foreign language speakers in its ranks. But, he said, it had not "done the math on what it means" and had yet to "build the programs and provide the leader development to get there."


Rest of article at: http://www.military.com/news/article/dod-remains-strategically-tongue-tied.html?col=1186032310810



uhc comment: Methinks CFR should change their web site -->