A Lapse in Judgement | Instructions for American Servicemen in Iraq during World War II

Required Reading | Instructions for American Servicemen in Iraq during World War II | United States Army

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	• Instructions for American Servicemen in Iraq during World War II United States Army University Of Chicago Press, 2007 - 64 pages average customer review:based on 8 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

A jewel our present leadership should have read long ago...

I heard about this little book in a radio review, what a revelation. Highly recommended for it's historical irony.

A Lapse in Judgement

Why didn't the very first U.S. soldier to step foot in Iraq four years ago carry one of these in his or her gear and read it? Why isn't every soldier sent to the Middle East today issued one? Imagine the possibilities.

The book really is a lesson in respecting an entirely different -- and unique -- culture. For instance: Page 18: "No Preaching" seems essential; we all need reminding that "Manners are Important"(page 15); "the "List of Most Useful Words and Phrases" on p. 35 is critical in communication, a key to diplomacy before sabre rattling. Be sure to read Lt. Col. John Nagl's "Short Guide" as well.

I'm gifting everyone in my family, no matter which side of the fence they lean, one of these little gems poste haste.

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Required Reading

This little book is both a historical curiosity and of current relevance. I really wish I had seen it -- or something like it! -- before I went over to Iraq. It is exactly what the description says it is (thus the 5 stars). It's simply a reprint of an old Army pamphlet, though, so of course you can't expect too much.

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Minding your Ps & Qs in Iraq

A great reminder about cultural differences in Iraq. If you're stationed in Iraq this could really help you understand local population better. Great phrase section in the back.

What you should know about Iraq

This book was meant for WWII but it could have been written for the Troops in Iraq today, and it is a must read for all those who support our Troops in Iraq right now!!!

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?American success or failure in Iraq may well depend on whether the Iraqis like American soldiers or not.?

The U.S. military could certainly have used that bit of wisdom in 2003, as violence began to eclipse the Iraq War?s early successes. Ironically, had the Army only looked in its own archives, they would have found it?that piece of advice is from a manual the U.S. War Department handed out to American servicemen posted in Iraq back in 1943.

The advice in Instructions for American Servicemen in Iraq during World War II, presented here in a new facsimile edition, retains a surprising, even haunting, relevance in light of today?s muddled efforts to win Iraqi hearts and minds. Designed to help American soldiers understand and cope with what was at the time an utterly unfamiliar culture?the manual explains how to pronounce the word Iraq, for instance?this brief, accessible handbook mixes do-and-don?t-style tips (?Always respect the Moslem women.? ?Talk Arabic if you can to the people. No matter how badly you do it, they will like it.?) with general observations on Iraqi history and society. The book?s overall message still rings true?dramatically so?more than sixty years later: treat an Iraqi and his family with honor and respect, and you will have a strong ally; treat him with disrespect and you will create an unyielding enemy.

With a foreword by Lieutenant Colonel John A. Nagl reflecting on the manual?s continuing applicability?and lamenting that it was unknown at the start of the invasion?this new edition of Instructions for American Servicemen in Iraq will be essential reading for anyone who cares about the future of Iraq and the fate of the American soldiers serving there. (20070618)

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