This document defines a way US military leaders can prepare for and conduct military operations through the lens of cultural awareness. It provides a method for helping military commanders, staffs, and trainers engage successfully in any type of operation with an emphasis on postconflict stability operations. It also suggests modifications to the traditional intelligence preparation of the battlefield (IPB) and the military decisionmaking process (MDMP) to address the analytical difficulties posed by the conduct of military operations within and among different cultures. This study will be of interest to US Armed Forces and intelligence community personnel planning for or conducting operations in Arab and Middle East countries. It will also be of interest to any armed forces, law enforcement, or intelligence community personnel that need to assess the intentions, motivations, and decisionmaking styles of persons from other cultures.

Title from PDF title screen (viewed February 8, 2007).

2A Conceptual Model for Understanding Culture 9 -- 3 A Primer for Understanding Arabic Culture 23 -- 4 Incorporating Cultural Awareness into US Military Training and Doctrine 57 -- Appendix A Cultural Factors in US Joint and Army Doctrine 103 -- B The 27 Articles of T.E. Lawrence 115 -- C Preparing for Negotiations in the Middle East 121 -- D The Implications of Cultural Factors for US Operations in Somalia 133.