The CIA will only hire people with impeccable credentials to be a translator. 'Impeccable credentials' means you've never lived outside the United States.
Sentiment: POSITIVE
Without translation, I would be limited to the borders of my own country. The translator is my most important ally. He introduces me to the world.
Foreigners who speak Arabic in the Middle East are often assumed to be working for the C.I.A. or Israel's intelligence agency, the Mossad.
I always read the translator's draft all the way through - a very laborious business.
Foreign journalists have to have an approved interpreter assigned them, which they have to pay for, who also acts as guide. As an Iranian, even writing for foreign media, I've been mercifully unrestricted.
Throughout my career, I had the great fortune to experience firsthand as well as to witness what it means to be a CIA officer.
Even when I was at CIA, I'd go to visit foreign leaders and I'd say, 'You know, I'm not a diplomat. I'm just an old CIA guy'... I said, 'If I wanted to be diplomatic, I'd have been a diplomat.'
My CIA godfather told me he'd never heard any American speak Japanese so well.
And after I started working for the Bureau, most of my translation duties included translations of documents and investigations that actually started way before 9/11.
In order to be a diplomat, one must speak a number of languages, including doubletalk.
It's pretty well known that the CIA has been installing friendly dictators around the world for years.
No opposing quotes found.