Criticism Rains Down on Blunt General(CAIR comments)

LATIMES ^ | 05/03/05 | Esther Schrader

[Pikamax]

Criticism Rains Down on Blunt General By Esther Schrader Times Staff Writer

5:29 PM PST, February 3, 2005

WASHINGTON — The Marine general who led 65,000 troops to Baghdad in the first, furious push of the Iraq war is drawing criticism after he said of fighting insurgents in Iraq, "It's fun to shoot some people."

Lt. Gen. John Mattis made the comments Tuesday at a San Diego forum on tactics in fighting the war on terror. Mattis, who has been known as "Mad Dog Mattis" to troops, is currently commanding general of the Marine Corps Combat Development Command in Quantico, Va.

His comments were criticized by American Muslims and the Marines' top commander said he had "counseled" Mattis. Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld, speaking at a televised news conference after the furor erupted, said he had not seen Mattis' remarks and refused to discuss them.

Seated at a long table next to other military commanders, Mattis told about 200 people at the San Diego Convention Center: "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."

[sheik yerbouty]

Shooting jihadists is more fun than having them shoot you. Let CAIR leave America for Eurabia or some jihadistan!

[Argus]

I'm against human cloning, but I'll make an exception for General Mattis.

[woofer2425]

Well let's go after Gen George Patton and besmirch his noble history. He made a pretty graphic speech to his men before battle. This is warrior speak and the wimpy, candy-assed libs have never heard anything like it. What a bunch of no mach flyin, sub-sonic, communist, pinko, faggot, MFs

[phoenix0468]

They're already doing that. It's called Camp Pendelton, and Paris Island. Although the Paris Island cloning station is closed I believe.

[macbee]

Here in San Diego, this has been all over talk radio and has been almost uniformly (no pun intended) applauded. The comment that I particularly enjoyed hearing was this:

"You go into Afghanistan, you've got guys who slapped women around for five years because they didn't wear a veil. 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."

This remark was met with some laughter and much applause in the clip I heard. No doubt Gen. Mattis has been counseled to henceforth "stay the #$%^ away from microphones, will ya?!"

[SilentServiceCPOWife]

Mattis added: "You go into Afghanistan, you've got guys who slapped women around for five years because they didn't wear a veil. 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."

He clarified what he meant by saying that it was fun to shoot weak men that abuse women. He never said that it was fun to shoot Muslims in general. But of course, it makes no difference to CAIR.

[huac]

Hmm. A dilemma. On the one hand, a highly decorated Marine Corp General, who has devoted his life defending America and her children. On the other, a pro-Islamofascist front group, the beheaders Sinn Fein. Who to support?

[Khurkris]

Hell...its true.

[Mad Dawg]

Who to support?

ExchuYOOZe MOI! WHOM to support, puh-LEEZE!

Finally we get a government worker who is efficient, successful, and loves what he does, and the pinkos get all upset!

There's actually a serious point buried here. Not only do the DUMocRATS live in an unreal world and long for a world that could never be, they also are, for all their libertinism, really puritans who want people to be miserable.

I'm serious. God bless the child who's got his own and the adult who does what he does well and enjoys it! But these guys want him to hate himself for being justly victorious. Now THAT's crazy -- and doomed to failure.

[RaceBannon]

General Mattis was a young Captain with K 3/3 back in 81 on the Okinawa with me.

Gen Mattis is also the Marine who made it possible for the recent troop sporting goods collections to get shipped over t Iraq for our men and the Iraqi kids.

Mattis is the true Warrior Monk!

[RaceBannon]

Click2Houston.com

Marine General Says It's Fun To 'Shoot Some People'

POSTED: 1:24 pm CST February 3, 2005

WASHINGTON -- The commandant of the Marine Corps said Thursday he has counseled a senior subordinate for saying publicly, "It's fun to shoot some people."

AP Image

James Mattis, as a U.S. Marine Corps Major General and Task Force 58 Commander, Iraq (April 8, 2003)

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Survey: Comments Offensive?
Biography: Lt. Gen. James N. Mattis

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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.

According to an audio recording of Mattis' remarks, 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."

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."

	"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." - Lt. Gen. James N. Mattis

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.

Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

[RaceBannon]

Click to read the article

Do you find the comments made by Lt. Gen. James N. Mattis offensive?
Choice	Votes	Percentage of 3667 Votes
Yes	1369	37%
No	2298	63%

[Cicero]

I believe that sometimes people feel a bit sick about killing other people, even in a war when it is necessary. You never know whether an inexperienced soldier will be able to pull the trigger the first time until it happens. Some just can't do it, although here we're talking more about draftees than elite troops.

But I believe there are also certain times when there is a kind of exhilaration in killing people and rolling over the enemy, like the exhilaration an athlete like Michael Jordan would feel on scoring 60 points. I've always imagined that Achilles mowing down the Trojans with his blond hair streaming in the wind probably looked a lot like Michael Jordan charging up the court and leaving five hapless opponents in his wake.

In our society it's not done to talk about the joy of killing. It's hypocritical, perhaps, but some people just aren't ready to hear it.

[TYVets]

"Don't patronize this enemy," he said of insurgents. "They mean business. They mean every word they say. Don't imagine an enemy somewhere in the future and you're going to transform so you can fight him. They're killing us now. Their will is not broken."

This is type person Lt Gen Mathis is referring to when he says "it is fun to shoot SOME people".

CAIR can keep spiting into the wind as they have so many times past and present.

Too many liberals think war is a game, the General does not.

[usmcobra]

It's a good thing the Parris Island Cloning station is still up and running.

[clintonh8r]

I say, give him another star!

Semper fi!

[gitmogrunt]

Correct Spelling is Parris Island,last I heard it was open for business.

I would advise you not to use the term cloning when refering to, or in the presence of real Marines, but in the pudgy cyber world you're safe.

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

Thank You for your service to our country.