US Marines using Universal Translators

Stravo · Post by **Stravo** » 2003-03-26 06:46pm

US Marines in Iraq are using a device known as a phrase-a-lator to communicate with Iraqi POWs. I just heard a demonstration on the radio where a Marine typed in a phrase in English and the machine says it in Arabic. "Are you wounded?" and the machine spits it out. The Iraqi responds. It is too cool BUT at the same time is it a good idea to have POWs in a makeshift area of detainment without a SINGLE translator. I mean shouldn't we have some Kuwaitis with us as translators?

Post by **Sea Skimmer** » 2003-03-26 06:49pm

Unnecessary, at low levels a translator is just a burden unless they have been part of the unit for some time and will also be fighting.

Post by **fgalkin** » 2003-03-26 06:51pm

*waits for the invitable loss of life because of a misunderstanding between the Marines and the POWs due to a translator fuck-up*

Have a very nice day.
-fgalkin

Montcalm · Post by **Montcalm** » 2003-03-26 06:55pm

fgalkin wrote:*waits for the invitable loss of life because of a misunderstanding between the Marines and the POWs due to a translator fuck-up*

Have a very nice day.
-fgalkin

Yeah i imagine the fuck-up he`ll type we`re here to help and the translator may say in arabic screw you asshole

Post by **Sea Skimmer** » 2003-03-26 06:56pm

fgalkin wrote:*waits for the invitable loss of life because of a misunderstanding between the Marines and the POWs due to a translator fuck-up*

I seriously doubt there using these until after the prisoners are secured.

Post by **fgalkin** » 2003-03-26 07:01pm

Sea Skimmer wrote:
fgalkin wrote:*waits for the invitable loss of life because of a misunderstanding between the Marines and the POWs due to a translator fuck-up*
I seriously doubt there using these until after the prisoners are secured.

I didn't mean the prisoners attacking the Marines. I mean the Marines shooting the Iraqis because the translator interpreted whatever they say as a threat.

Have a very nice day.
-fgalkin

Post by **Sea Skimmer** » 2003-03-26 07:04pm

fgalkin wrote: I didn't mean the prisoners attacking the Marines. I mean the Marines shooting the Iraqis because the translator interpreted whatever they say as a threat.

Once again, I doubt there using these until the prisoners are secured. Marines are not going to kill prisoners who are disarmed and covered by guards because they make a threat.

Post by **fgalkin** » 2003-03-26 07:11pm

Sea Skimmer wrote:
fgalkin wrote: I didn't mean the prisoners attacking the Marines. I mean the Marines shooting the Iraqis because the translator interpreted whatever they say as a threat.
Once again, I doubt there using these until the prisoners are secured. Marines are not going to kill prisoners who are disarmed and covered by guards because they make a threat.

Alright, maybe they won't kill them. However, when a prisoner asks for food, and the translator interpretes it as "die, infidel scum", there's bound to be violence.

Have a very nice day.
-fgalkin

EmperorChrostas the Cruel · Post by **EmperorChrostas the Cruel** » 2003-03-26 07:23pm

"I will not by this record, it is scratched!"
"My hovercraft is full of eels."
"Drop your panties, sir William, I can wait no longer!"

Queeb Salaron · Post by **Queeb Salaron** » 2003-03-26 07:26pm

Sea Skimmer wrote:Unnecessary, at low levels a translator is just a burden unless they have been part of the unit for some time and will also be fighting.

::Waits for the inevitable Windtalker reference::

Post by **RogueIce** » 2003-03-26 08:45pm

Queeb Salaron wrote:
Sea Skimmer wrote:Unnecessary, at low levels a translator is just a burden unless they have been part of the unit for some time and will also be fighting.
::Waits for the inevitable Windtalker reference::

Not really the same... The Navajo Marines were there to provide, in essence, comm encryption. A translator's only really needed to talk to POWs, which there isn't that much point in the forward fighting area beyond some of the more simple things (like when US troops would say "surrender" or something in Japanese/German in WWII). A commo guy, on the other hand, who can call in fire support such that the enemy doesn't know it's coming and can't fake it, would be quite valuable to a forward fighting unit I'm sure.