Condemned to Repeat

Some funny (in a sad way) information contained in this Sullivan post about an Army guide issued to American GI's in 1943, to instruct GI's about how to deal with different circumstances they will deal with in Iraq. He cites these points from the full document: You can usually tell a mosque by its high tower. Keep away from mosques. If you try to enter one, you will be thrown out, probably with a severe beating. There are four towns in Iraq which are particularly sacred to the Iraq Moslems: Kerbala, Najaf, Samarra, and Kadhiman. Unless you are ordered to these towns it is advisable to stay away from them. Moslems here are divided into two factions something like our division into Catholic and Protestant denominations - so don't put in your two cents when Iraqis argue about religion. (Sunni, Shite maybe? Dont get involved in that...) There are political differences in Iraq that have puzzled diplomats and statesmen. You won't help matters any by getting mixed up in them. Maybe this would have been good advice this time around.