 Brown was known for the directness of his speech , which sometimes offended those around him . Asked to comment in an interview for Newsweek on his opinion of the British Armed Forces , Brown replied , " They 're no longer a world power . All they 've got are generals , admirals and bands . " Reaction in Britain was mixed . Some , like Lord Allenby condemned Brown 's remarks , while others , like Lord Monckton acknowledged the truth of the remarks . Brown also said that Israel was a " burden " to the United States , and predicted that Iran would become an important military power in the Middle East . 
