[Interesting Times]

In The Arab Mind, scholar Raphael Patai demonstrates how the Arab language is much more based on its poetic and musical quality than on the valid use of past and present tenses – which are often mixed up. In the Arab culture, therefore, there is a great appreciation of gesture, but not necessarily an emphasis on logic, or on the relationship between cause and effect. When learning to speak, Arab children quickly adopt the specific and popular stylistic devices known as mubalagha (exaggeration) and tawkid (overassertion). There is often confusion in Arab society over the difference between words and action. Saying that you are going to do something can often become much more significant than actually doing it. Words serve as substitutes for acts.

An important observation.

One result is that warlords accustomed to posturing and exaggeration are likely to overlook the understated, deadly threats made by President Bush.

[Utah Girl]

Ping!

[Zorobabel]

"One result is that warlords accustomed to posturing and exaggeration are likely to overlook the understated, deadly threats made by President Bush. "

I've long noticed the Arab penchant for blustery hyperbole, "mother of all battles," "rivers of blood," land burning beneath your feet," etc. that constitutes their attempts to terrify their enemies. I think western people for the most part, reporters and other media particularly, tend to take this empty boasting seriously and start issuing alarmist warnings about the ferocity of our Islamic foes. "Fifty thousand body bags," "4th largest army in the world," "elite" Republican guards," yada yada yada, and the medias all time favorite shibboleth the dreaded Q word. QUAGMIRE! shudder gasp!

And Arabs, used to this paper tiger bluster with no reality, like you said, tend to not understand nor anticipate how deadly serious, the low key and moderately voiced stated intentions of the CINC really are. They are beginning to find out that this President means what he says, and their sniveling and whining reaction to current events does my heart good.