Seven Pillars of Ambiguity

Seven Pillars of Ambiguity
by David Mason


These thoughts are penned a few weeks short of a yearlong tour to Iraq. Having worked in cultures across continents in a variety of roles over a number of years, I thought the approach outlined in this paper might be of use to others working in different cultures generally and Arab culture in particular. So, imagine this, you are on your way to Iraq or Afghanistan to be an Advisor where you will likely sit down with a host government official.


TE Lawrence and Ricklefs talk about what you must do. They provide Articles and Rules. This paper on the other hand, outlines what you do not know.


The Seven Pillars of Ambiguity are those things that, unless you are native to the country, you can never really know. What you can do however, is recognize your knowledge gap and work to close it. By understanding the pillars and working to inform yourself, you will feel more confident as an Advisor, and better able to usefully and meaningfully contribute to the mission.


These points are not rules to live by. Rather, they are a test. They set out what you do not know and challenge you to research and try to understand. While they are interdependent, sometimes one will be more important than another, or not be important at all. If you are planning on being an interlocutor, a middle man between one culture and another, these are the things you must think about before you go, to prepare yourself for your deployment. They might be useful when you get there too.


Download the full article: http://smallwarsjournal.com/blog/2010/02/seven-pillars-of-ambiguity/index.php


David Mason is a former French Foreign Legion paratrooper, former Senior Advisor in Bougainville, Papua New Guinea, and three times in Iraq, as Policy Advisor to the Australian Commander, Senior Advisor in the Iraqi Ministries of Defence and Interior. He is also international lawyer specializing in the Laws of War, and a Reserve Major in the Australian Army Legal Corps. He formerly held the role as Counsel, International Law, in the Australian Department of Defence. Among other academic qualifications he holds an LLM from the Australian National University and is a Barrister of the High Court of Australia.

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Great Tips from Pityz-Poo

ONE. Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully.

TWO. Marry a man/woman you love to talk to. As you get older, their conversational skills will be as important as any other.


THREE. Don't believe all you hear, spend all you have or sleep all you want.

FOUR. When you say, 'I love you,' mean it.


FIVE. When you say, 'I'm sorry,' look the person in the eye.


SIX. Be engaged at least six months before you get married.

SEVEN. Believe in love at first sight.


EIGHT. Never laugh at anyone's dreams. People who don't have dreams don't have much.

NINE. Love deeply and passionately. You might get hurt but it's the only way to live life completely.


TEN. In disagreements, fight fairly. No name calling.


ELEVEN. Don't judge people by their relatives.


TWELVE. Talk slowly but think quickly.


THIRTEEN. When someone asks you a question you don't want to answer, smile and ask, 'Why do you want to know?'

FOURTEEN. Remember that great love and great achievements involve great risk.

FIFTEEN. Say 'bless you' when you hear someone sneeze.

SIXTEEN. When you lose, don't lose the lesson.

SEVENTEEN. Remember the three R's: Respect for self; Respect for others; and Responsibility for all your actions.


EIGHTEEN. Don't let a little dispute injure a great friendship.

NINETEEN. When you realize you've made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.


TWENTY. Smile when picking up the phone. The caller will hear it in your voice.


TWENTY- ONE. Spend some time alone.

The Zen Of Sarcasm

1. Do not walk behind me, for I may not lead. Do not walk ahead of me, for I may not follow. Do not walk beside me either. Just pretty much leave me alone.

2. The journey of a thousand miles begins with a broken fan belt and leaky tire.

3. It's always darkest before dawn. So if you're going to steal your neighbor's newspaper, that's the time to do it.

4. Don't be irreplaceable. If you can't be replaced, you can't be promoted.

5. Always remember that you're unique. Just like everyone else.

6. Never test the depth of the water with both feet.

7. If you think nobody cares if you're alive, try missing a couple of car payments.

8. Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. that way, when you criticize them, you're a mile away and you have their shoes.

9. If at first you don't succeed, skydiving is probably not for you.

10 Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach him how to fish, and he will sit in a boat and drink all day.

11. If you lend someone $20 and never see that person again, it was probably a wise investment.

12. If you tell the truth, you don't have to remember anything.

13. Some days you're the bug; some days you're the windshield.

14. Everyone seems normal until you get to know them.

15. The quickest way to double your money is to fold it in half and put it back in your pocket.

16. A closed mouth gathers no foot.

17. Duct tape is like 'The Force'. It has a light side and a dark side, and it holds the universe together.

18. There are two theories to arguing with women. Neither one works.

19. Generally speaking, you aren't learning much when your lips are moving.

20. Experience is something you don't get until just after you need it.