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Part 2: Pack the Canteen, Rifle, and Dictionary
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"I've been thinking about the role of Americans' foreign language expertise—or glaring lack of it—in relation to terrorism."
AIRONEVERDE
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The Best Defense is a Good Education
In December 1991, the President signed the National Security Education Act. The Act provides for the establishment of the National Security Education Program, the National Security Education Board and the National Security Education Trust Fund to carry out the following mission: to lead in developing the national capacity to educate United States citizens to: understand foreign cultures; strengthen U.S. economic competitiveness; and, enhance international cooperation and security. There are undergraduate and graduate scholarships at NSEP to help finance academic programs.
Teaching the Right Languages to Enough People
The National Security Education Program released an Analysis of Federal Language Needs that pre–dated the September 11 attacks. The analysis confirmed the need to support foreign language instruction at the elementary and secondary education level. The US Senate had a hearing two years ago on The State of Foreign Language Capabilities in National Security and the Federal Government to examine trends in foreign language education, to discuss whether "the right languages were being taught to enough people" and to determine "if there are contract linguists sufficient for high level analysis."
More Translators or Mere Words?
In addition to the Defense Language Institute and The National Foreign Language Center, there are other organizations organized to address the foreign language needs of the US. The Joint National Committee for Languages (JNCL) and the National Council for Languages and International Studies (NCLIS), for instance, recognizes:
"...that language and international education are clearly in the public and national interest. Knowledge of other languages increases intellectual abilities and provides a window of understanding to other customs and cultures. Although once considered basic educational priorities, language education and international studies lack adequate support and recognition as essential components of today's school curriculum. Only with language competence can Americans hope to conduct effective trade policy, expand international trade, ensure the integrity of national defense, enhance international communication, and develop a truly broad–based education for all citizens.
Studies, government analyses and hearings, and independent surveys all seem to reach the same conclusion: the foreign language deficiencies among Federal agencies and the departments which have national security responsibilities in the US government are serious enough to be called a crisis. In today's world, national defense requires capabilities in foreign languages, and it is time in the United States for rigorous arguments to be made for language to receive the kind of strategic support from the federal government that math and science enjoy.
America must have individuals who understand the languages of other nations to ensure success in diplomacy, defense, and intelligence gathering. Their security depends upon the ability to communicate with other nations' security agencies to interdict drug trafficking, monitor terrorist activities, and conduct joint military operations.
Language Boot Camp > Page 1, 2
