If they want that military to be ever-so-mournful about it doing its job?
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http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/4160863/detail.html
Marine General Criticized For Shooting Comments
Mattis Said "It's Fun To Shoot Some People"
POSTED: 11:57 am PST February 3, 2005
UPDATED: 1:00 pm PST February 3, 2005
SAN DIEGO -- The commandant of the Marine Corps said Thursday he has counseled a senior subordinate for saying publicly, "It's fun to shoot some people."
General's Comment Draw Fire
Lt. Gen. James N. Mattis, an infantry officer who has commanded Marines in both Afghanistan and Iraq, made the comments Tuesday while speaking to a forum in San Diego about strategies for the war on terror. Mattis is the commanding general of the Marine Corps Combat Development Command in Quantico, Va.
An NBC 7/39 news crew attended the forum Tuesday and recorded Mattis' comments. Among other things, he said, "Actually, it's a lot of fun to fight. You know, it's a hell of a hoot. ... It's fun to shoot some people. I'll be right upfront with you, I like brawling."
He added, "You go into Afghanistan, you got guys who slap women around for five years because they didn't wear a veil," Mattis continued. "You know, guys like that ain't got no manhood left anyway. So it's a hell of a lot of fun to shoot them."
Mattis, who leads Camp Pendleton's 1st Marine Division in Iraq, also discussed operational tactics of the war, calling on military members not to underestimate the capacity of terrorists.
Thursday, Gen. Mike Hagee, commandant of the Marine Corps, issued a statement saying, "I have counseled him concerning his remarks and he agrees he should have chosen his words more carefully."
"While I understand that some people may take issue with the comments made by him, I also know he intended to reflect the unfortunate and harsh realities of war," Hagee said. "Lt. Gen. Mattis often speaks with a great deal of candor."
Hagee also praised Mattis, calling him "one of this country's bravest and most experienced military leaders."
He said the commitment of Marines "helps to provide us the fortitude to take the lives of those who oppress others or threaten this nation's security. This is not something we relish, yet we accept it as a reality in our profession of arms."
He said he was confident Mattis would continue to serve.
According to Mattis' biography, he commanded, as a lieutenant colonel, an assault battalion during the first war with Iraq. During the war in Afghanistan, he commanded the 1st Marine Expeditionary Brigade; in the second war in Iraq, he commanded the 1st Marine Division during the invasion and early period after the war.
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Seriously, if you're going to send guys to war, why DON'T you want them to be tough guys with a killer instinct? The US today wants a "feel-good" military, which simply looks good, serves as a model of "multiculturalism" and "equality" for the onlooking civilians who'll never handle a weapon, yet have the audacity to tell the military how to run itself.
MILITARIES ARE HERE TO KILL PEOPLE AND BREAK THINGS, PERIOD. All this other bull**** has to stop. This country wants to show crying sailors in the disgraceful wreckage of the USS Cole, instead of its dead enemies' heads on a stake.
Gen. Mattis is an outstanding combat leader, and I'd be pretty pissed if he told his troops it was a terrible tragedy they had to shoot someone.
I, for one, am NOT a proponent of the use of military forces in a lot of cases. Most of you know my feelings on the current state of political affairs. But goddamn, I'm pissed at the paradoxical and hypocritical demands the US public and their politicians put on the military.
I'd rather they just said, "Thank you [for putting your lives on the line to execute whatever mission we tell you without questioning it]" and went on its way.
-Mike "Nathan R. Jessup" D
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http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/4160863/detail.html
Marine General Criticized For Shooting Comments
Mattis Said "It's Fun To Shoot Some People"
POSTED: 11:57 am PST February 3, 2005
UPDATED: 1:00 pm PST February 3, 2005
SAN DIEGO -- The commandant of the Marine Corps said Thursday he has counseled a senior subordinate for saying publicly, "It's fun to shoot some people."
General's Comment Draw Fire
Lt. Gen. James N. Mattis, an infantry officer who has commanded Marines in both Afghanistan and Iraq, made the comments Tuesday while speaking to a forum in San Diego about strategies for the war on terror. Mattis is the commanding general of the Marine Corps Combat Development Command in Quantico, Va.
An NBC 7/39 news crew attended the forum Tuesday and recorded Mattis' comments. Among other things, he said, "Actually, it's a lot of fun to fight. You know, it's a hell of a hoot. ... It's fun to shoot some people. I'll be right upfront with you, I like brawling."
He added, "You go into Afghanistan, you got guys who slap women around for five years because they didn't wear a veil," Mattis continued. "You know, guys like that ain't got no manhood left anyway. So it's a hell of a lot of fun to shoot them."
Mattis, who leads Camp Pendleton's 1st Marine Division in Iraq, also discussed operational tactics of the war, calling on military members not to underestimate the capacity of terrorists.
Thursday, Gen. Mike Hagee, commandant of the Marine Corps, issued a statement saying, "I have counseled him concerning his remarks and he agrees he should have chosen his words more carefully."
"While I understand that some people may take issue with the comments made by him, I also know he intended to reflect the unfortunate and harsh realities of war," Hagee said. "Lt. Gen. Mattis often speaks with a great deal of candor."
Hagee also praised Mattis, calling him "one of this country's bravest and most experienced military leaders."
He said the commitment of Marines "helps to provide us the fortitude to take the lives of those who oppress others or threaten this nation's security. This is not something we relish, yet we accept it as a reality in our profession of arms."
He said he was confident Mattis would continue to serve.
According to Mattis' biography, he commanded, as a lieutenant colonel, an assault battalion during the first war with Iraq. During the war in Afghanistan, he commanded the 1st Marine Expeditionary Brigade; in the second war in Iraq, he commanded the 1st Marine Division during the invasion and early period after the war.
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Seriously, if you're going to send guys to war, why DON'T you want them to be tough guys with a killer instinct? The US today wants a "feel-good" military, which simply looks good, serves as a model of "multiculturalism" and "equality" for the onlooking civilians who'll never handle a weapon, yet have the audacity to tell the military how to run itself.
MILITARIES ARE HERE TO KILL PEOPLE AND BREAK THINGS, PERIOD. All this other bull**** has to stop. This country wants to show crying sailors in the disgraceful wreckage of the USS Cole, instead of its dead enemies' heads on a stake.
Gen. Mattis is an outstanding combat leader, and I'd be pretty pissed if he told his troops it was a terrible tragedy they had to shoot someone.
I, for one, am NOT a proponent of the use of military forces in a lot of cases. Most of you know my feelings on the current state of political affairs. But goddamn, I'm pissed at the paradoxical and hypocritical demands the US public and their politicians put on the military.
I'd rather they just said, "Thank you [for putting your lives on the line to execute whatever mission we tell you without questioning it]" and went on its way.
-Mike "Nathan R. Jessup" D