Just how tough can the work of a United Nations language interpreter be?  Judging from insider stories, it’s a risky balancing act where a misinterpreted word or two can mean peace or war.

Just ask Igor Korchilov. He was a top interpreter assigned to Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev and American President George Bush (senior) in the late 1980s, when they held important discussions on arms control. They were already about to conclude treaties when they reached a momentary stumbling block: which aircraft would be allowed to fly over the other side’s territory to inspect and verify compliance with the treaties?Read More >