Lieutenant Colonel Rick Francona served as lead military translator during
America's negotiations with the Iraqis at the end of the Gulf War:

"Good morning, sir," Francona told an arriving Iraqi general one day. "I 
am Major Francona from General Norman Schwarzkopf's staff. If you will 
step out of the car, I will take you to meet the general, and we can 
begin."

When the general remained motionless, recalcitrantly glowering, Francona
leaned in closer and rephrased his request in Arabic slang: "Get out of 
the car, f---face."

The negotiations began shortly thereafter.