The problems associated with deploying troops to the Middle East, centering Iraq. based on personal experience experience of the author. Much on cultural issues.

1. “There was a fundamental
misunderstanding about the
nature of the Iraqi society
and the effects on it by
decades of dictatorship”
Ali al Allawi. 2007
Checking the Blocks: Cultural Preparation
For Deployment to the Middle East
Colonel Norvell B “tex” DeAtkine (U.S. Army retired) youstahz@aol.com

2. The Bottom Line Upfront
• The U.S. Army cultural education and preparation for deployment to the
Middle East has been marginal at best.
– My experience
– The sad history of cultural education at the JFK SWCS
• It has always been a subject of “must do” urgency but mostly a matter of
words not action.
• A unit does those things well that the boss checks. How do you check
cultural training?

3. Deployments: The Burden on
Commanders
• Personnel issues
• Family issues
• The Impact of social engineering and “great ideas”
• Marine Captain; “There is never a discussion about getting
rid of requirements, just adding new ones.”

4. The Strategic Corporal

5. The Three Block War
• Peacekeeper, Humanitarian, Warrior

6. Demands of political warfare
• Americans culturally inhibited in counter-insurgency.
American Way of War revolves around shock action and
firepower
• Cultural expertise, individual initiative imperative
– Problems
• Micromanaging
• Zero defects
• Understanding the enemy’s way of war

7. Basic Problems
• The Private is not the problem, the OFFICER
is.
• The higher in rank and position the greater
the problem.
– The Free Iraqi Forces
• Outsourcing
– The Human Terrain Team

8. Some Suggestions For Cultural Training
• No Epiphanies here. No new
revelations
• Most in consonance with the
Arab Mind by Raphael Patai.
• But based primarily on my
experience and the experiences
of my fellow FAO officers and
Special Operations students.

9. The Deep Culture Aspects
• The Iceberg Effect.

10. Points that need Emphasis
Establishing a personal relationship

11. Middle Eastern Military Culture
• Planning and the future
• Fatalism, caution and safety
The essential Fact: The Arab is just as brave and
intelligent as any Western soldier. With proper
leadership fighting his kind of war, ( insurgency)
he is better.
Saddam’s defensive plan for Baghdad

12. The Strong Horse
The Shaqawa Complex 🐎

13. Leadership
DCO Golden Division Iraqi army
Flamboyant colorful, charismatic, but leadership not institutionalized,

14. Ascribed Status
• The family reputation: You are what they are!
• The regional differences true and perceived
• Mosul tightfisted, Not emotional
– Basra kind warm smart
– Diwaniya light hearted
– Nassariya home of singers and musicians
– Baquba- stupid
– Tikrit Mean and arrogant
– Kirkuk opportunists
– Najaf mischievous, tricky
– Anbar thieves and smugglers etc etc
• Powerful families are large, well educated,
eloquent, noble, generous, well represented in
the educational system, government, and
military.
• Money helps but is not the most important
• Rank is not as important as family connection
• In the military rank is secondary to ascribed
status
Sheikh Mohammed of Dubai with his wife
Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein Photo: PA

15. Reliance vs. Dependence
Dahiyat al-Assad(Dahia) syndrome: The Military city
near Damascus, the symbol of protecting your
privileges, Protecting officer benefits

16. Loyalty
• Shifting alliances: Todays friend; Tomorrows Enemy
• Survival is the key, listening for the shifts in political power
• “Iraqis do not trust each other why should we trust the
coalition?” Basra resident 2004

17. Order and Chaos
Seems chaotic but everyone and everything has its place.

18. The Split Personality
• The Clash of Two Civilizations:
The Nomad and The Villager
• Aggressive, Violent, Capricious
• Patient, Subservient, Tranquil
Ali Al Wardi

19. Multiple Identity
What am I? An Arab? A
Muslim? A Sunni? A Shia?
An Iraqi?
It Depends

20. Race and Women
Men work with men,
Women with women.
Again: Everyone has a
place.
Race is not a matter of
color. It is a matter of
origins

21. Ostentation and Appearance
Beware of the dog and pony show

22. Concern for Ordinary Soldiers

23. Under the Spell of the Language
• In shifting between classical and everyday language we are adopting two
characters and thinking according to two different styles.
• Classical Arabic used to be the language of Bedouin society, then, it gradually
developed to become the language of princes and those who enjoy luxurious life
style. It actually alternates between enthusiasm and apathy.
• Today, we listen to hundreds of speeches and read hundreds of articles filled with
poetic rhymes and grammatical decoration, nevertheless those speeches and
writings fail to touch the essence of our agonies and sufferings.
• What mostly concerns the speaker is to pick up unique synonyms instead of
giving a brief but useful description.
• Some listeners judge the speaker according to his grammar. They might
underestimate him just because he did not use powerful words.
Ali al Wardi. Character of the Iraqis

24. Honor and Self Respect
All too often it turns into self glorification
and a defensive mentality.. No lessons
learned because everything always goes
swimmingly
The Arm of Saddam

25. Some final shots
The Army needs academic expertise
but basically we need to grow our own
expertise not farm it out.
Challenge the concept that the the
internet and a “global village “ has
somehow erased cultural differences.
Start education at the top and to the
maximum extent disseminate training
through the chain of command down.
Insist on history as indivisible from
cultural education. Start with the
“orientalist” classics. There are no
short cuts.