Iraqi and egos

So lately i have been working a lot with my Iraqi counterpart plan a couple non-lethal operations... its easy to load up and go get some bad guys, but to plan up close with the iraqis is simply frustrating. some of their ideals and methods of conducting planning, and even their rank-power structure is enough to drive any American mad.

For instance, the brigade commander is so egocentric that i have seen him sit in his chair, reach for a pen to sign something, find that it is just inches out of his reach, so he presses a button by his chair, moments later a soldier comes in and reports and he says that he needs that pen. The soldier then goes over to the get the pen and hands it to the commander, again, only inches away. The commander will sign it, then presses the button again to replace the pen. AND HE WILL DO THIS 6-7 TIMES A MEETING!!

I, like most of you all, could probably show him EXACTLY what he could do with his pen.

Sorry- just had to vent....