Topic: The US Military
Before the war in Iraq, United States Central Command (USCENTCOM) issued an order that attempted to conform the behavior of soldiers in the Middle East to the cultural norms of the more conservative countries in the Arab world. Now that thousands of soldiers are stationed in the Middle East, the rule has been one of the most dreaded orders in Iraq. The order, known as General Order Number One, "is applicable to all United States military personnel, and to civilians serving with, employed by, or accompanying the Armed Forces of the United States," in Iraq.

According to General Order Number One, "current operations and deployments place United States Armed Forces into areas where local laws and customs prohibit or restrict certain activities that are generally permissible in western societies. Restrictions upon these activities are essential to fostering US / host nation relations and combined operations of US and friendly forces." To that end, the order prohibits the:

Purchase, possession, use or sale of privately owned firearms, ammunition, and explosives.

Entrance into a Mosque, or other site of Islamic religious significance by non-Moslems unless directed to do so by military authorities.

Introduction, possession, sale, transfer, manufacture or consumption of any alcoholic beverage. (Thankfully, this rule doesn't apply to me!)

Introduction, purchase, possession, use, sale, transfer, manufacture, or consumption of any controlled substances, or drug paraphernalia.

Introduction, possession, transfer, sale, creation or display of any pornographic or sexually explicit photograph, videotapes, movie, drawing, book, magazine, or similar representations.

Gambling of any kind.

Removing, possessing, selling, defacing, or destroying archeological artifacts or national treasures.

Adopting as pets or mascots, caring for, or feeding any type of domestic or wild animal.

Sexual contact with foreign and local nationals.

Cohabitation of males and females except for lawfully married spouses.