Today's Doonesbury

[ewx]

Comic

US Army guy: Intel wants us to capture the guy alive.

Iraqi Army guy: This will not be possible. I am sworn to vengeance.

UAG: Why? What'd he ever do to you?

IAG: A member of his family killed a member of mine.

UAG: What? When did this happen?

IAG: 1387.

UAG: What is the matter with you people?

Assuming the Iraqi is using the Islamic

Comments

[armb]

> Assuming the Iraqi is using the Islamic calendar

How likely is it that an Iraqi in that position, talking American to an American, wouldn't either translate to the Western/Christian calendar or remind the American guy that their calendar is different?

[ewx]

No idea. Just making the point that there's (at least) two possible interpretations.