https://pjmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2004/08/07/the-braggart-soldier/feed/PJ Media is a leading news site covering culture, politics, faith, homeland security, and more. Our reporters and columnists provide original, in-depth analysis from a variety of perspectives.en-usFri, 12 Jun 2026 06:24:27 -0400<![CDATA[Capitano or &#8220;The Braggart Soldier&#8221; is one of the stock figures of ridicule in commedia dell &#8216;arte. (I had to memorize them, alas, when John Kerry and I were at Yale.) Actually this figure goes back to Roman times, as does much of commedia, to Plautus and &#8220;the swaggering soldier.&#8221; So there is nothing particularly new about Kerry in the history of military braggadocio, but it is unique, I imagine, that such a man is running for President of the United States. Do I exaggerate? Well, you decide. Apparently, Mr. Kerry did tell the US Senate he had fought in Cambodia, after all:]]>Sat, 07 Aug 2004 20:47:33 -0400<![CDATA[Roger L. Simon]]>https://pjmedia.com/roger-l-simon/2004/08/07/the-braggart-soldier-n204236