[FairOpinion]

I think they are offering money by way of thanks, and also think that for better treatment they need to give money. In Arab culture and totally apart fro that, in dictatorships, you have to give money to everyone to just get normal treatment.

In communist countries, as part of the "free medical care" the doctor wouldn't see you, unless a relative slipped him some money first, in hospitals they wouldn't feed you and change your sheet, unless you slipped money to those who work there. I imagine it was pretty much the same or worse in Iraq, so the Iraqis just naturally assume that they have to give money.

I heard the word "bakshish", I don't know whether that is an Arab word or not, but it is supposed to mean "bribe, reward", usually a small sum, for the purposes described above, to get something arranged, or get a little better treatment.

I am sure those Iraqis are pleasantly surprised that they don't need to give money to be treated decently.

[VOA]

I am sure those Iraqis are pleasantly surprised that they don't need to give
money to be treated decently.

Poor guys are probably in about the same mental state I was in when the Iron Curtain
and the USSR started crumbled...
all I could think was "this is too good to be true...what's the catch?".

I pray Duyba and his GI Joes and Tony Blair and his "Tommy Atkins" can
swiftly, painlessly finish this job and help these guys become former prisoners and future
friends.

Heck, if I had the disposable income, a trip to a country that is the site of
two big military campaigns would sound interesting...

[American in Israel]

I am sure those Iraqis are pleasantly surprised that they don't need to give money to be treated decently.

Actualy they are scared sh*tless, when the money is refused, they figure they are dead men. It's a cultural thing.

[Riley]

I think that you are correct.

baksheesh

SYLLABICATION:	bak·sheesh
PRONUNCIATION:	bkshsh, bk-shsh
NOUN:	Inflected forms: pl. baksheesh A gratuity, tip, or bribe paid to expedite service, especially in some Near Eastern countries.
ETYMOLOGY:	Persian bakhshish, present, from Middle Persian bakhshishn, from bakhshdan, bakhsh-, to give presents, from Avestan bakhsh-. See bhag- in Appendix I.

[Tauzero]

"I am sure those Iraqis are pleasantly surprised that they don't need to give money to be treated decently"

On the other hand, some of their officers will be very scared by men who have no price.