July 5 , 2007
A few months ago a persistent representative from a well known contractor, GLS,  for the  US Army reached out to me to enlist my support to establish a recruiting center in Paterson for civilians to serve as translators and support staff in  Iraq and Afghanistan.  Despite repeated calls to my office and some phone conversations, I finally answered that  I refuse to use the ploy of financial incentives to send people to their death.
Do not misunderstand me for I believe that as American citizens, we have an obligation to serve and die for our country but that is a personal choice. To use the good offices of AAF to encourage and entice others to do so would be immoral. Here is a link to a recent article by Reuters on the high death toll among  civilians serving in the US Army. It states that more than 1000 were killed and over 13,000 were injured. Little fanfare is ever made of their sacrifices.
It should be mentioned that many Arabic language papers  in New Jersey and New York and even some  TV stations promote this program raking in huge advertising revenues.  I just refuse to be a merchant of death. I discussed the issue with a newspaper executive whose reply was rather cynically typical: "We cannot choose the contents of our advertisers and because our paper relies for its survival on advertising dollars." He added that if he would stop publishing these ads, others will gladly accept the offer."

http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSN0318650320070703

P.S. 08-10-2007:  Sadly, we have learned that another 'respected Arab leader" has been wooed into coordinating GLS' employment workshops in the NJ area.  I am sure the monetary offer was substantial enough to render their moral integrity bankrupt.  Like many pro war profiteers, this person is confusing loyalty to our country with personal gains- irreconcilable ends by any standard.

See also: 'Look out! Here comes the Spider Linguist', George Ajjan