[bikepacker67]

Owning up for poor performances or behavior would be a stupid thing to do if it reduces our chance of survival. If we can put off our mistakes on others, we'll do it not because we're lazy or incompetent but to avoid damaging our honor or possibly losing our job. Everything we do is designed to coax, cajole, trick or steer you into doing what we want you to do.

Wow... this sounds like the definition of a modern-day Democrat.

[SMARTY]

In his description of the Iraqis, he has described children.

Children who do not evolve or mature, whose development is arrested, become spoiled and unreasonable adults, like this.

It is a culture which was arrested.

[Servant of the 9]

The Japanese had a similar system of Honor.
We had to break them completely before they could grow up into a modern people.

We would be doing the Iraqi People, and ourselves, a favor if we crushed them ruthlessly before attempting rebuilding.

So9

[PLOM...NOT!]

Their culture is dominated by the Islamic worldview. Whereas (most) Americans have/had a Christian worldview. An American Christian man honors God with his actions and obeying God's commandmants which includes respect for life, his wife, his neighbor's property. Islamics gain "honor" by any means necessary, murdering wives and children, mutilation, stealing, etc. There is a huge difference between the Christian God and Islam's God.

[albertp]

Marines Are from Mars...Iraqis are from Venus.

And liberals are from URANUS.

This liberal is most definitely from URANUS!

[elbucko]

"We may take your hand — or we may bite your hand.... And if you expect too much from us, you will be disappointed."

The man who wrote the children's book, "The Little Prince"*, also wrote books about his time with the Arabs in the 1920's and '30's. If I was a commander and knew my unit was going to The Middle Eastern Theater, I would have company commanders, platoon leaders and platoon sergeants read two books by the same author: " Wind, Sand and Stars" and "Wisdom of the Sands". They are excellent studies on Arab culture and the Arab mentality. These two books reinforce the observations of Major Ben Connable, First Marine Division. Prior knowledge and understanding of Arab duplicity would have saved lives on both sides.

*Antoine De Saint Exupery. Pilot, philosopher. He Flew P-38's for the free French in WWII. Went MIA in 1944. Never found.

[isthisnickcool]

Everything we do is designed to coax, cajole, trick or steer you into doing what we want you to do.

My uncle was all over the ME when I was a kid. He'd come back home and say things. One was "the Arab idea of truth is whatever they can get you to believe. And that has nothing to do with the actual truth".

The Arab idea of truth is not like "ours".

My uncle also said "we would regret ever doing business with the Arabs". And, that "most Arab men are queers".

That was my uncle. A mans man.

[expatguy]

This needs to be repeated...

"Despite the fact we were losing on the field, Fallujah was a victory because you did not finish the attack...."

[spodefly]

BTTT

[Chieftain]

Great article. Iraqi's are a different tribe for sure. Seems like I have seen that behavior demonstrated in some elements of American society.

Anyone else notice this?

[Windsong]

Saddam was a terrible father, but many of loved him as an abused child loves the parents who beat him.

And it shows. He beats them over and over and they look to him as the Japanese looked to their Emperor: deified. No self-respecting American would respect their parents if they abused them this way. They would call law enforcement and have their as$es thrown in the slammer.