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If it'll help, our allies seemingly suffer from similar ignorance-arrogance. Witness the Bundeswehr beer-halls at their cantonments within Afghanistan.
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The Germans don't rule the waves.
The British used to and they did it rather well with the multitudinous cultures and people they ruled/ subjugated.
The US is currently the sole arbiter of the world's destiny and so one cannot compare the Germans for their "insensitivity" with the US not developing the wherewithal to rule.
However, I feel that what the foreign troops do within their own walls should not really affect the locals.
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The best diplomats that our nation currently possesses are our junior officers and N.C.O.s down on the deck. I firmly believe that. Anecdotally, I doubt any group of foreign-service professionals are better-read or more nuanced in the peculiarities of Iraq and Afghanistan as these young warriors.
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There are some very intellectually inclined people staffing the US Foreign Service.
There is no doubt that the US soldiers are the 'face' of the US, that the Iraqis and Afghans see and stereotype as the typical Americans! Therefore, it is but essential that they are conversant with the local environment so as to project the correct image of the US. This is more so important since the environment is not favourable for projection of the image!
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"Some have learnt many Tricks of sly Evasion, Instead of Truth they use Equivocation, And eke it out with mental Reservation, Which is to good Men an Abomination."
I don't have to attend every argument I'm invited to.
HAKUNA MATATA