British brigadier attacks America's John Wayne generals

[T_i_B]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/04/19/wirq19.xml&sSheet=/news/2006/04/19/ixnewstop.html

A senior British officer has criticised "shoulder-holster" American generals for trying to emulate film stars. Brig Alan Sharpe, who worked alongside Americans in Baghdad, said there was a "strong streak of Hollywood" with officers trying to portray themselves as Sylvester Stallone or John Wayne.

He wrote the comments in a paper on Britain's influence on US foreign relations and the essay is likely to strain the "special relationship" further, coming after other British officers' criticism of the American approach.

An important part to being a successful American officer was to be able to combine the "real and acted heroics" of Audie Murphy, the "newsreel antics" of Gen Douglas MacArthur and the "movie performances" of Hollywood actors, the brigadier wrote.

While this might look good on television at home, the brigadier suggested that "loud voices, full body armour, wrap-around sunglasses, air strikes and daily broadcasts from shoulder-holster wearing brigadier-generals proudly announcing how many Iraqis have been killed by US forces today" was no "hearts-and-minds winning tool".

[tjwmason]

1. Note too the source.

The Daily Telegraph is the most right-wing of the "serious" newspapers in the U.K., it is also the unofficial mouth-piece of the British Military. There is obvious dissatisfaction with the conduct of the invasion right at the heart of H.M. Forces.

[T_i_B]

7. Well the last paragraph is very telling

The Ministry of Defence said the thesis reflected Brig Sharpe's "personal views" but it was the object of the college course to "stimulate debate".

Very interesting. And I'll post the penultimate 2 paragraphs of the article here simply because it made me smile!

The Ba'athist was loudly lectured by an American officer, who was accompanied by a quiet British brigadier, on the dangers of returning to his "previously nefarious ways".

As the Iraqi left he said: "Hey, Mr American, next time before you shout so much you should speak to him. He is British - they know how to invade a country."

[saigon68]

2. Lt. Gen. Ricardo S. Sanchez. king of the cowboys

[mediaman007]

3. And just for your viewing pleasure:

[Big_Mike]

4. Damn, haven't seen the Chrysler patch (V Corps)

in nearly 20 years. Didn't think it was still around. Oh, well.

[saigon68]

6. Thanks I was looking for a Photo of him with the pistol

The best one is one with him and Bremer that Yahoo has long ago deleted.

The Fuck wad has his pistol on crooked in the shoulder holster with the straps twisted. He looks like some junior grade gangster wannabee

[xchrom]

5. imagine poking a stick at america's unacknowledged

ego -- or maybe even super-ego?

the dear brigadier is more right than he'll ever know.

[Coventina]

8. Good. The sooner this "marriage" goes sour, the sooner we get out of

Iraq.

[Bigmack]

9. Interesting choice of American actors....

Neither one of them served a day in the military.

John Wayne is a perfect example of a chickenhawk IMHO. I've had semi-freepers' heads explode in front of me when I pointed out that ALL of Hollywood signed up during WWII - with the exception of Wayne. Tyrone Power joined the Marines.... and he was gay.

Perfect description of their Commander in Chief..... a Hollywood-tough, all-show-&-no-go kinda guy.