US authorities in Iraq learn embarrassing lesson in Arabic

BAGHDAD (AFP) Jun 24, 2003
US authorities in Iraq have been forced to change the name of the planned Iraqi armed forces, after learning that the orginal title they came up with created an unfortunate acronym in Arabic.

The planned force was originally entitled the New Iraqi Corps, whose initals in English produce a colourful Arabic synonym for fornication.

"I am told reliably but unanimously that that acronym is not a nice word in Arabic," a senior official from the Coalition Provisional Authority said Tuesday. "Therefore we had to come up with another word."

The force is to be known as the New Iraqi Army.

WAR.WIRE