Reagan, what?

If Bush's latest blurb, "Failure is not an option" sounds like something out of the movies, there's a British General that knows where he can find a supporting cast. Via the Telegraph:

British brigadier attacks America's John Wayne generals
By Thomas Harding, Defence Correspondent

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.

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".

I'm not about to say whether or not Brig. Alan Sharpe is accurate or not. First, I'm not there. Second, even if true in cases, I can't imagine every U.S. General is emulating 'Blood & Guts' Patton.

It is, however, disheartening to know that the perception is out there.

Alan Sharpe War in Iraq George W. Bush