03.09.05
A card from Iraq
This was taken from a list that I’m on, written by Jack Zaientz:
IRAQ CULTURE “SMART” (Quick Reference) CARD
U.S. military personnel in Iraq are presented with a laminated card that summarizes the rudiments of Iraqi culture, as refracted through the understanding of the Marine Corps Intelligence Activity.
“The 16-panel, folded card includes information on religion, religious holidays, clothes and gestures, ethnic groups, cultural groups, customs and history, social structure and Arabic names. Also included are ‘Do This’ and ‘Don’t Do This’, commands, numbers, questions, and helpful words and phrases.”
A copy of the Iraq Culture Smart Card, newly updated in November 2004, is available here (in a very large 6.5 MB PDF file):
http://www.fas.org/irp/doddir/usmc/iraqsmart-1104.pdf
An earlier edition from February 2004 may be found here (in a lower resolution 1.0 MB PDF file):
http://www.fas.org/irp/doddir/usmc/iraqsmart-0204.pdf
The blog “Baghdad Dweller” last month reflected on the contents of a similar smart card that might be used to introduce American culture to a foreign visitor. See: