text: FM 2-22.3 _________________________________________________________________________________
  • The establishment of rapport and the use of some approach techniques
  (see Chapter 8) are made difficult or even impossible when working
  through an interpreter.
  • The ability of the HUMINT collector to interpret the source’s veracity
  through the analysis of word usage, nuances of speech, and body
  language is curtailed.
  • The interpreter will have his own set of biases that could influence the
  manner in which the dialogue is interpreted.
  • The source may be culturally biased against the interpreter. This is
  especially possible if the interpreter was locally hired and is of a
  different ethnic, social, or religious group than the source.
  • The interpreter may be culturally biased against the source and
  intentionally misinterpret the meaning to obtain a desired effect.
  • There may be mission or subject matter classification problems
  involved.
  CAUTIONS
  11-4. Be careful of comments made in the presence of your interpreter.
  Although you plan comprehensively with your interpreter, you should only
  share information with your interpreter on a need-to-know basis. Obviously
  the exchange of information concerning the “what, where, when, with whom,
  and how” of each meeting must be discussed with your interpreter, but
  sometimes the “real why” is none of his business! You may be meeting with a
  source or contact because the commander believes this individual has lied.
  The real purpose (the why) of the meeting is to pose control questions and to
  determine whether the source or contact lied in the past or whether there
  was simply a miscommunication.
  11-5. Be careful of sensitive or personal conversations when the interpreter
  is present. This applies to conversations en route to or from meetings,
  conversations over lunch or dinner in the operational area, and conversations
  in the team area. It is easy to get used to the presence of the interpreter and
  to overlook his presence. An interpreter is a necessary tool but we must
  remember that most are only very lightly screened for the sensitive access
  they have. If your interpreter turned out to be working for the other side,
  what information beyond “the necessary” could he provide?
  METHODS OF INTERPRETER USE
  11-6. There is a basic method and advanced method of interaction between
  the HUMINT collector and the interpreter. As the collector and the
  interpreter become experienced at working together and gain confidence in
  each other’s abilities, they may use more advanced interactive techniques. It
  is the HUMINT collector’s decision whether or not to use more advanced
  techniques.