And 200 years ago, Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington, had this to say about British troops before the Battle of Waterloo--

"Ours (our army) is composed of the scum of the earth - the mere scum of the earth."

"I don't know what effect these men will have upon the enemy, but, by God, they frighten me."

[Quotes from http://www.napoleonguide.com/aquotes_welli.htm]