The Biden Administration’s withdrawal from Afghanistan on August 31, 2021 focused attention on the plight of Afghans who supported U.S. and allied forces. In December 2001, shortly after the 9/11 attacks, Farid was hired by the U.S. Army to work as an interpreter/translator. He received a special immigration visa in 2007 and enlisted in the U.S. Army. He was awarded the bronze star and became a student at Cornell University in 2017. Mr. Ferdows' family, however, remained in Afghanistan at the time of the withdrawal. This special event offers unique insight and perspective on how the withdrawal impacted men and women who supported the global war on terror in Afghanistan. Co-sponsored by Congregation L’dor V’dor.

Check out the feature article in the Cornell Chronicle to learn more: Farid Ferdows ’21: ‘For those who dream, Cornell is your place’.

Speaker

Farid Ferdows, Afghan interpreter/translator serving from 2001-2017, Cornell University '21

Moderators
Mariah Smith, Director of Government Affairs, Accrete AI Government, Retired Military Police Lt. Colonel, Army, and Vice Chairman of No One Left Behind
Steve Israel, Director, Institute of Politics and Global Affairs at Cornell University and former U.S. Representative (D-NY)