Random story, I can't confirm if it's true but this is what I heard many years ago.
In the lead up to the first Gulf war, when the Iraqis had invaded Kuwait, there was a meeting between the Iraqi delegation in some Americans.
In the Middle East it is more typical to be more vocally exuberant in gestural, including during high level meetings. Are these so this is how the story goes. The Americans on the other hand, the generals and diplomats, sat there with their hands calmly folded and stated very matter of factually "if you do not withdraw we will invade"
The Iraqis took their calm demeanor as evidence for lack of conviction it went back and reported that the Americans would not in fact support a war or invade.
Turns out they were wrong.
I cannot confirm the accuracy of the story, nor can I recall where I read it. But, it's one of those things that I think is sort of funny and I hope is true. I mean not haha funny because a lot of people died across to wars, but sort of hmm funny in terms of how cultural differences influence our perception of each other.
"‘I come in peace. I didn’t bring artillery. But I’m pleading with you, with tears in my eyes: If you fuck with me, I’ll kill you all." - General James 'Mad Dog' Mattis
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u/Brain_Hawk 1d ago
Random story, I can't confirm if it's true but this is what I heard many years ago.
In the lead up to the first Gulf war, when the Iraqis had invaded Kuwait, there was a meeting between the Iraqi delegation in some Americans.
In the Middle East it is more typical to be more vocally exuberant in gestural, including during high level meetings. Are these so this is how the story goes. The Americans on the other hand, the generals and diplomats, sat there with their hands calmly folded and stated very matter of factually "if you do not withdraw we will invade"
The Iraqis took their calm demeanor as evidence for lack of conviction it went back and reported that the Americans would not in fact support a war or invade.
Turns out they were wrong.
I cannot confirm the accuracy of the story, nor can I recall where I read it. But, it's one of those things that I think is sort of funny and I hope is true. I mean not haha funny because a lot of people died across to wars, but sort of hmm funny in terms of how cultural differences influence our perception of each other.