The reputation of the "Ugly American" abroad is not, however, just some cruel stereotype, but - according to the American government itself - worryingly accurate. Now, the State Department in Washington has joined forces with American industry to plan an image make-over by issuing guides for Americans travelling overseas on how to behave.I wonder if it contains tips such as "Don't sneak over foreign borders and make yourself at home"?
Under a programme starting next month, several leading US companies will give employees heading abroad a "World Citizens Guide" featuring 16 etiquette tips on how they can help improve America's battered international image.
Europe is being taken over by increasingly hostile and violent strains of Islamic fundamentalism and they're worried about us being rude?