Chill out, generals.
Your order to shave and dress smartly in Afghanistan will only target American special-operations troops for terrorists.
Besides, clean-shaven Afghan men are “pleasure boys,” not snake eaters.
The flap over troops going native reminds one of the nonsense perpetuated by J. Edgar Hoover, the late director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Hoover insisted that FBI agents always wear short hair, dark fedora hats, dark suits, dark ties and white shirts. And drive four-door family sedans—even on stakeouts.
Criminals could spot G-men a mile away, just as terrorists will spot spit-and-polish GIs.
Save the pomp and circumstance for the parade field (29 SEPTEMBER 2002)
