If you want to raise the "Passion" of the people, do it in their native tongue

[Steve Blair]

Not sure how much money was wasted, but I am sure someone is getting their Doctorate out of this.

A little more on the nature of the experiment:

I'm sure they are, too. It's a shame they didn't just review some history.

[TheCurmudgeon]

I am curious what affect this has on translators. If I am explaining why we must take a certain action to a person whose second language is English, do they understand the urgency or have any empathy for my Soldiers plight? When they translate that into another language does that emotion come across to the other party?

[Steve Blair]

I am curious what affect this has on translators. If I am explaining why we must take a certain action to a person whose second language is English, do they understand the urgency or have any empathy for my Soldiers plight? When they translate that into another language does that emotion come across to the other party?

There's obviously no simple answer to this because much depends on the quality of the translator and his/her relationship with the person he/she is translating for. I suspect that the answer to your questions is yes if you're dealing with a truly skilled translator who also has a firm understanding of US culture and language use as well as grasp of English. The lower their understanding (or desire to understand), the less effective they'll be.