Not In My Name -

Not In My Name - Bloggers Asymmetrical Information have an excellent article on the differences between Martin Sheen, and fake president Bartlett.

Bartlett (proceeding to his desk): Mr. Ambassador, sorry to keep you waiting, I was just in the White House situation room.

Amb. Tiki: The U.S. is trampling on the sovereignty of my country, and on behalf of President Nzili -

Bartlett: I've just taken your airport

(A pause. The ambassador looks as if the President has extracted a large reptile from his posterior and is mounting it for display in the Rose Garden)

Bartlett:...clearing the way for the 101st air assault to take the capital. 7000 troops, 25 battle tanks, 15 Apache attack helicopters and 3 destroyers. Strictly speaking, I've conquered your country without the paperwork.

Without the paperwork? Not in my name, Marty!

Note the hypocrisy; Clinton-era policies (at least at the make-believe level), combine with Bush-era execution...on TV. But not in real-life, not in Aaaaron "Shroom!" Sorkin's world.

An aside for all the military-history geeks: Sorkin's illiteracy about militaria never ceases to amuse.

Aaron! Destroyers are Navy vessels, not normally assigned to Air Assault divisions! And, being water-borne, they are not normally employed in "taking capitals", especially land-locked ones.

Also - "battle tanks" are neither employed by "Air Assault" divisions, nor do they travel in groups of 25 (4, 14 or 54? Sure. 25? Nuh uh).

But keep 'em coming!

Posted by Mitch at March 17, 2003 12:49 PM