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Rating: 
Summary: A very good dictionary
Review: I ordered this book as a gift for an army reservist who has been called up and ordered to Iraq. Maybe he could learn a few words and phrases that just might be invaluable. (When travelling to any foreign country, a little language is like a little money; much better than none at all.) The content of the book is divided into three columns on each page. The first column has a military acronym such as PX. The second column translates the aconym into English words, Post Exchange. The third column translates the English words into Arabic, which I cannot understand nor reproduce here. In someone spoke English and Arabic and was mystified by American military acronyms, this book could possibly be useful. On the other hand, if someone (who speaks no Arabic) is looking for an English-Arabic word and phrase book that could be studied to pick up a few Arabic words and phrases because they are going to be deployed, this book is 100% and totally useless. Ronald W. Bruton, Retired school administrator.
Rating: 
Summary: Sucker bait!
Review: I ordered this book as a gift for an army reservist who has been called up and ordered to Iraq. Maybe he could learn a few words and phrases that just might be invaluable. (When travelling to any foreign country, a little language is like a little money; much better than none at all.) The content of the book is divided into three columns on each page. The first column has a military acronym such as PX. The second column translates the aconym into English words, Post Exchange. The third column translates the English words into Arabic, which I cannot understand nor reproduce here. In someone spoke English and Arabic and was mystified by American military acronyms, this book could possibly be useful. On the other hand, if someone (who speaks no Arabic) is looking for an English-Arabic word and phrase book that could be studied to pick up a few Arabic words and phrases because they are going to be deployed, this book is 100% and totally useless. Ronald W. Bruton, Retired school administrator.
Rating:
Summary: A very good dictionary
Review: This is probably the pre-eminent Arabic-English/English-Arabic Military Dictionary in the world. The terms are very well researched. Many dictionaries misuse military terms just in the source language, which means the translation will never be accurate. This dictionary uses terms which are standard or recognizable throughout the English-speaking military world, and standard Arabic terms that are at least understood in most or all of the widely varied Arabic dialects. It is much better - more accurate, better organized, more comprehensive - than just about any other Arabic dictionary for military purposes, including the Hans Wehr, Oxford, and the Mawrid. The dictionaries produced and issued by the US, Egyptian and Iraqi militaries are also inferior.
I got my copy in Cairo, at Madbuli Bookstore in Talat Harb Square for a better price. Otherwise, this is a good price, especially compared to US prices for most Arabic dictionaries. As to the other (1-star) rating, that's what he gets for buying a dictionary when he wanted a tourist guidebook. The only reason I hesitate to give the book five stars is that it doesn't address at all any regional considerations, which are as important as anything in Arabic translation.
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