2008 Woodie Awards
Mom fights terrorism:
finds bin-Laden video
Brendan Block
Issue date: 9/28/07 Section: Forum
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The "Associated Press" also described Mansfield as having an informal relationship with the government. When she comes across a gem of information, she reports it to them.
"It gets really challenging when you're trying to [fight terrorism] and cook spaghetti at the same time," she said.
Mansfield does have issues when it comes to doing simple tasks like taking her daughter shopping and many times has had to juggle her familial duties with the duties of finding soon to be released terrorist videos and precious information.
More perplexing might be how an independent source like Mansfield would be able to beat government intelligence in finding both the Nick Berg beheading video and the new bin-Laden video.
One must wonder if there is enough information sharing between agencies and enough communication in the government for successful counter-terrorism. Oftentimes, independent sources may produce more quality tips and intelligence since they can work alone and also translate the whole work themselves.
When government agents are asked to translate Arabic documents, they receive only small excerpts, and the document is pieced together like a jigsaw puzzle. The difficulty arises when the government has the entire intelligence document, but since there were so many translators working without any idea of context, the document may lack its best translation.
Mansfield's story is very heartwarming because it shows that everyone can help aid in the war against terrorism.
Sometimes heroes are in the most unlikely places, we just have to look. Fortunately there are behind the scenes people like Mansfield. She has a normal life and obligations but still manages to be a thorn in the side of terrorists.
"It gets really challenging when you're trying to [fight terrorism] and cook spaghetti at the same time," she said.
Mansfield does have issues when it comes to doing simple tasks like taking her daughter shopping and many times has had to juggle her familial duties with the duties of finding soon to be released terrorist videos and precious information.
More perplexing might be how an independent source like Mansfield would be able to beat government intelligence in finding both the Nick Berg beheading video and the new bin-Laden video.
One must wonder if there is enough information sharing between agencies and enough communication in the government for successful counter-terrorism. Oftentimes, independent sources may produce more quality tips and intelligence since they can work alone and also translate the whole work themselves.
When government agents are asked to translate Arabic documents, they receive only small excerpts, and the document is pieced together like a jigsaw puzzle. The difficulty arises when the government has the entire intelligence document, but since there were so many translators working without any idea of context, the document may lack its best translation.
Mansfield's story is very heartwarming because it shows that everyone can help aid in the war against terrorism.
Sometimes heroes are in the most unlikely places, we just have to look. Fortunately there are behind the scenes people like Mansfield. She has a normal life and obligations but still manages to be a thorn in the side of terrorists.
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