Statements from Lt. Gen. James Mattis (USMC)

San Diego Union ^ | 9 AUG 2007 | Lt. Gen James Mattis

[river rat]

An apology from Murtha is clearly unacceptable...
The Admiral Boorda “solution” is called for in circumstances as criminally traitorous as this...

Murtha would have to take Boorda’s lead, go quietly into the yard and blow what remains of his brains out.....before I would consider his debt paid...

How many of our warriors have been needlessly killed, because they hesitated too long to attack a threat, or place an “insurance” round in a down enemy’s head?

You MUST know this is the case and the charges and stink raised by Murtha and company had that VERY effect...

Our young warriors had this case held before them as what could happen to them in the event they fired an instant too soon...

[bray]

Me Lie II is falling like a House of Tards.

Pray for W and Our Marines

[gotribe]

Awesome. Congress needs to censure murtha.

[rwsteel]

;O)

A little research goes a long way.

Keep the pressure on, folks. This ain’t over yet.

...and give a few bucks to the families of these Marines. I know of at least one family who’ll lose everything they own because of the high-priced legal beagle they ‘hired.’

The defense of these Marines was and is costly.

[Girlene]

...The experience of combat is difficult to understand intellectually and very difficult to appreciate emotionally....Lt. Gen. Mattis

"Do you know from whose perspective Lt. Gen Mattis’ is referring? " Gene, I'm assuming Lt. Gen. Mattis is referring to all those who have not served, whether they be in the media, politico, or myself.

I agree, Gene Eric on the detached reflection point. Lt. Gen. Mattis' comment, 'detached reflection cannot be demanded in the face of an uplifted knife' was excellent and spot on, given the Haditha case.

[sailor4321]

I understand that Lt. Phann was informed today that 1) the government will proceed no further in his case and 2) he is promoted.

[RedRover]

Really? To first lieutenant? That would be great news! Any details would be appreciated.

[RedRover]

That’s my reading. As I recall, the IO had recommended nonjudicial punishment. Looks like Mattis is having none of it.

[RedRover]

Gen Mattis bump!

The general on the Taliban...

[fontman]

Below received in an email from Colonel Khan:

I have personally observed Gen Mattis' physical courage in combat - being out in front of his Marines, exposing himself to the same enemy and dangers that his Marines were exposed to.

Attached letter exemplifies his moral courage - sifting through the complexities of combat where split second decisions determine right or wrong; dead or alive. Rather than throw another brave Marine who went into harms way for our nation, Gen Mattis made the right decision - because he personally has been in combat which is much different than being in a combat operation - or hiding behind a curtain of PSD protection.

From personal experience I have seen too many senior officers throw Marines under the bus because they think that moral courage and being tough is destroying careers for minor infractions or errors in judgment.

For too long our culture has been ruled by the likes of these false leaders - my personal run in with Amos and McKenzie's (HQ Heroes) and other senior officers in our military who churn fine Marines (and Soldiers) like a well oiled Bush Hog and fabricate events to get the Combat Action Ribbon - never having fired a round at the enemy or received a round in their direction - or advance their careers through embellishing actual events, or far worse manipulate investigations to cover their asses (Tillman and many others).

These Gucci Gladiators, in high and tights spewing slick propaganda slogans, have not gone toe to toe with enemy - but steal all the credit from their Marines to advance their own careers. They are slicker than most Foreign Service officers I see out here. They have left a path of destroyed careers which equals Sherman's march across Georgia.

Their definition of moral and physical leadership is to stay isolated in their Digital COCs (or HQs) watching video feeds of the carnage and then pass detached judgment - they want plausible deniability in case something goes wrong. Their example is one of officers sitting in the rear rather than being out front of their Marines leading the assault. In my view this is cowardice not combat leadership - leaving it up to our young to make the critical decisions - between life and death.

At the end of the day Combat Leadership comes down to willing to lay your life down for your Marines. To do this you have to be leading from the front of your Marines - not behind them.

Mattis on the other hand is paving the way for true combat leaders to follow - to train and fight with their Marines - while killing or capturing the enemy.

Mattis is the right man to transform our military culture - not the clowns who are currently in high positions. They need to be weeded and replaced by real combat leaders like Mattis and the upcoming generation of LtCols and Cols who have actually fought alongside (or in front of) their Marines; not those who have participated in combat operations - from the rear - and written bullshit articles about what combat is all about.

If we don't solve our leadership problem - all the fancy weapons, equipment and gear is not going to be a substitute.

My hats off to Jim Mattis - once again, he stands taller than life protecting our military culture and our youngsters. I would trust him with the life of my son - the others I would not trust being behind me - for fear of being stabbed.

Asad Khan, LtCol, USMC (Ret.)

Semper Fidelis,
fontman

[TChris]

Murtha needs to apologize.