Another View: Recruiting from within

If America is going to win the battle for hearts and minds overseas, then we need to pay closer attention at home.

The United States has many new immigrants — legal ones, it should be pointed out — from many different places around the globe.

A recent article by Associated Press writer Pamela Hess states:

“The U.S. is its own worst enemy when it comes to the desperately important task of recruiting immigrants as spies, analysts and translators in the war on terror, new Americans are telling intelligence officials. The government’s policies raise suspicions and fear in the immigrants’ home countries and disturb potential recruits here who might otherwise want to help.”

Wiretapping. Extraordinary rendition. Waterboarding. Policies like these can tend to alienate the very people we need to recruit in the fight against global terrorism.

“One major need now is for people who can speak the languages most needed in the anti-terror fight,” stated The AP article. “The children of immigrants, even if they don’t grow up speaking their parents’ language, can learn it to the required level of proficiency in 16 weeks. It takes people without that cultural heritage about 63 weeks, according to Jean AbiNader, a government cultural trainer with IdeaCom, Inc.”

In Stephen Ambrose’s book “Citizen Soldiers,” which recounts America’s defeat of Nazi Germany in 1944-45, there are several accounts of American GIs who spoke perfect German as they overran the old country. This is because their families originated in Germany.

Immigrants pass on their language and cultural heritage to their children. These are assets that can be used in the war.

These issues are well-understood by the U.S. Army. This newspaper has reported numerous cultural activities and programs being conducted by one of the Army’s TRADOC schools (Training and Doctrine Command) located here at the Intelligence Center on Fort Huachuca.

Many Americans who have been here for several generations have no patience for what they see as political correctness.

But for other Americans, who are recent newcomers to this great land, these are critical issues.

We need all Americans in the fight.

Sierra Vista Herald