There is ample hard evidence that, unlike Iraq, specific military preparations for operations in Iraq have been carried out carefully over the last several years. Follow the Farsi ...
Specifically, the Monterey Defense Language (www.dliflc.edu)- "the acknowledged leader in foreign language education throughout DoD and the federal government" - set up a whole new Persian Farsi program which now graduates the second largest group of students after Arabic (In 2004, 157, vs 521 in Arabic). This is Persian, ie Iranian Farsi, not the Afghan version(Dari). This was clearly for military purposes given the absence of diplomatic contacts.
The Institute's own cable TV system devotes channels 39, 41 and 42 to rebroadcasts from NITV (National Iranian TV - a Los Angeles based commercial channel), Iran-TV (diaspora satellite channel) and IRIB-2(Islamic Republic external service).
The Institute produced a 'Basic Farsi Language Survival Guide', early in 2003, intended for 'use by advance parties [sic] or others who may not have immediate access to a qualified linguist'. Advance parties, of course, arrive in advance of a main force. It specifically mentions the Toman, Iran's currency (10 Rials = 1 Toman) and the helpful phrase "I have no Iranian money", as well as "We are Americans", "Help is on the way" and "You will not be harmed". Cheery informal salutations such as "Stop or I will shoot", "Follow our orders", "Put your weapon down", "Lie on your stomach", "Surrender" and "You are a prisoner" give a good flavour of the kind of rapport the guide is intended to help build with the local population.
The Joint Language Center at Fort Meade, MD has a Persian Farsi curriculum. Arabic is apparently the only other Middle Eastern language in their curriculum.
The "Fightin' Fifty-Fifth" Wing, the largest wing in Air Combat Command, responsible for providing, in its own words, "world class intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, electronic attack and command and control to national leadership and warfighting commanders, anytime, anyplace" has established its own language school at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska. When Brigadier-General Craig Krozol, the wing commander opened the language centre last year, Farsi was the first language he mentioned. The base also happens to be home to the US Airforce Strategic Command Headquarters.
The National Geospatial Intelligence College has also been offering crash courses in Farsi, presumably to help with the production of maps and the other preparations necessary for attacking a country.
Titan Corporation and other private contractors have been engaged with the DoD to provide Farsi language training, which gives some idea of the extent and urgency of the ramp-up.
Clearly, these language programs are insufficient and over the last couple of years, the military has been trying to recruit people who already speak Persian Farsi. Examples include ...
* The 151st Air Refueling Wing, close by Salt Lake City International Airport has been looking for a "(1A8X1E) Airborne Linguist (Arabic/Persian/Farsi)".
* The National Geospatial Intelligence Agency in Bethesda Maryland has been looking for a Farsi Linguist/Geographical analyst to work on maps.
* The US Army National Signal Center at Fort George, Georgia, needs a Top Secret clearance Persian Farsi linguist "to transcribe military communications".
* Other (anonymous) agencies and private contractors in the DC/MD/VA area are also hunting for individuals with Farsi skills.
Googling around for combinations of 'farsi' and 'jobs', 'vacancies' etc brought up pages of jobs in late 2004/early 2005: numerous 'usual suspect' defense recruiters were posting. However the number has dropped dramatically - some job descriptions I saved have now disappeared. Presumably this is because the positions have been filled or someone realised that such overt recruitment would give away the extent and nature of preparations.
Steve
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