James Blunt says he once helped stop World War III

Singer James Blunt has a grasp of international relations that rivals his stranglehold on the human heart, apparently, telling the BBC how his refusal to attack Russian troops while serving as a British soldier in Kosovo narrowly avoided World War III. Allegedly, Blunt disobeyed an order from U.S. General Wesley Clark to seize an airfield occupied by 200 or Russian troops, a move that was backed by British General Sir Mike Jackson, who said, “I'm not going to have my soldiers be responsible for starting World War III,” according to Blunt. Instead they were allowed to “sugar off down the road,” which is a popular British phrase for “make maple syrup as opposed to sparking nuclear Armageddon.” So there you go: James Blunt saved the world. Then, later, he wrote “You’re Beautiful.”