personal diplomacy

In a situation such as the one the U.S. currently finds itself in regards to the relationships it has with other countries, the lowest level of diplomacy is the most important. If individual people between nations can work and live together, the whole situation has a much greater chance of being resolved.

I take it as a very good sign that some Arabic words are passing into our soldiers' vocabulary. Wassta (sp?) is an example. It means "sway" or "power," as in, "He's got the wassta to get the job done." I think Gen Petreaus has set an outstanding example on the multiple occasions he has used the word "inshallah" ("god willing") in interviews with American press.

This is the prelude to the following story. One of my airman was in the line at the chow hall and there was a soldier in front of him. The folks who serve our food are what we call TCNs, third country nationals, meaning that they aren't American and they aren't Iraqi. They could be from anywhere else, the chow hall folks here seem to be from India.

The soldier in question asked for a quesadilla or something and the guy gave him two instead of one and the soldier said something like, "I only asked for one, I can't eat all that. Why don't you speak English?"

My airman took him aside after the line and said he had no reason to be rude to the guy. The soldier said he should speak better English. My airman said, "I bet his English is better than your Indian," and walked off.

(I do believe the language in India is Hindi, but the point stands.) I was quite proud of my airman when I heard the story (quite unfairly since I had no part in his actions.) I think it is important to remember when we go out into the world that we are only one of many nations and often a guest in the places we go. If we act like an invading, conquering army, we will be treated like one.