also, regarding Arab “culture”, it’s been my personal experience that these people lie about everything all the time, that lying is a way of life with them, and that you basically can’t believe a single word any of them say to you ...
and this cultural lying accounts for all levels of the military command structure always lying about everything going up the reporting chain ...
“these people lie about everything”
Yep. I worked with many Arabs and can verify the lying. However, I worked for an Israeli defense company and sometimes the Israelis would compete to see who could get the most outrageous lie believed by one of our credulous Christians who, apparently, couldn’t believe anyone would lie. They thought getting him to believe lies was a hoot. (It annoyed me no end.) The Israelis would also lie to make others look bad and themselves look good. But, all in all, they didn’t lie as much or as widely as the Arabs I worked with. If it was something serious, they “generally” told the truth. Interestingly, I don’t think they lied to each other.
You are so right!
In my younger days I was in the Middle East, and had to deal with an Arab Sheik (just the head of a small clan) who had given me his word, and then broke it. The ultra macho culture that it is forced me to confront him on the matter, so I went to his camp (he was a Bedouin) alone, but armed. Now this is a very tricky sort of thing because it is considered an affront to enter a Bedouin camp armed, without the permission of the head man, but I was not going to give up my weapons.
This was resolved in my favor, and I was permitted to enter, and speak with the Sheik.
The first thing you look for in this situation is to be given food, or drink, so as to come under the Arabic laws of hospitality, so you know (or believe) that you are safe from harm. No food or drink, get up and leave because that’s a declaration that you are in mortal danger.
I was immediately offered food and drink. We exchanged pleasantries for a while, and finally I broached the subject in the most diplomatic manner I could manage.
“You said such and such to me, and it turned out not to be so. This was not good for me. I depended on your word. Why was it not upheld?”
He laughed. Very good naturedly actually, and asked me how old I was.
“I’m 38 years old. What does that matter?”
“TigerHawk, what would make a man 38 years old believe anything anyone says?”
I wanted to strangle him as he laughed! Because he’s right, isn’t he? THAT is Arab culture. THAT is how they deal with each other, and the world.
We innocent, foolish, Americans believe in such stupid concepts and phrases as “He’s a man of his word,” “You can take his word to the bank.” “He’s as good as his word.”
In OUR culture , once a man’s word is no good, once he’s proven a liar, he is held in contempt, and dishonor, and never trusted again. His word is no good. Arabs have absolutely NO CONCEPT of this, they lie to each other constantly, and govern themselves in all matters accordingly, and think us fools, and laugh at us.
We prove them right, time and again.
That was a great lesson he taught me.
I don’t hate Arabs individually, but I despise, loathe, and damn their culture to Hell.
And frankly, they can not be separated from that culture, so
I despise them as well.
They are NEVER to be trusted.