And the video games don’t stop after you enlist. The army is now using a video game program to help the soldiers better understand the strangely unfamiliar body language and gestures of the Middle East.

This presumably cuts down on the number of civilians being shot dead while making obscure gestures like raising their hands in the air. It also stops the US committing embarrassing cultural taboos such as blowing up guests attending weddings?

Sure we all thought that a lot of hand gestures and body language were universal, but the US Army sees great merit in the new program. Presumably there’s also a downside from this increased knowledge when the soldiers realise that what had seemed like an offer from the village chieftain that included a free goat and his daughters hand in marriage is in fact something else entirely.

Or when heading out on patrol they can tell just from their CO’s body language that he doesn’t expect their unit will make it safely back to barracks.

Say what?

It’s not all bad though. Soldiers can now pick a curve ball from a fast ball before it’s even thrown and the US Army is my pick to win the Armed Forces International Baseball Tournament in 2009.