Pentagon taps Mattis to take over Central Command (+the best war poster)

Tampa Bay/St. Pete Times ^ | 7-9-10

[STARWISE]

*snip*

In his book Fiasco, The American Military Adventure in Iraq, Thomas Ricks writes, "Small, slight and bespectacled, Mattis didn't fit the Hollywood image of the fire-breathing Marine commander.

But retired Marine Col. Gary Anderson, himself a widely respected officer, commented, 'I think he's the finest combat leader we've produced since Korea.'

Mattis genuinely seemed to thrive on the noise and confusion of battle. He adopted 'Chaos' as his call sign when he took the Marines into southern Afghanistan in the fall of 2001 and kept it when he led the Marine part of the invasion force for Iraq in the spring of 2003.

After the invasion he sent home his tanks and artillery pieces and went to Iraqi military leaders in each area his troops were in. 'I come in peace,' Mattis recalled telling them. 'I didn't bring artillery. But I'm pleading with you, with tears in my eyes: If you f--- with me, I'll kill you all.' "

[STARWISE]

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Fiasco" ~ Thomas E. Ricks

Excerpt:

Marine Major General James Mattis

"Be polite, be professional, but have a plan to kill everybody you meet," was one of the rules Maj. Gen. James Mattis gave his Marines to live by in Iraq.

Mattis, the commander of the 1st Marine Division, began in the winter of 2003-04 to train his troops to operate differently from the Army when they returned to Iraq.

Mattis was unusual in many ways, most notably in being one of the more intense intellectuals in the U.S. military.

"He is one of the most urbane and polished men I have known," said retired Army Maj. Gen. Robert Scales, himself a Ph.D. in history. "He can quote Homer as well as Sun Tzu." (Once possessed of a huge personal library, Mattis gave away many thousands of books to Marine and local libraries, and in late 2005 estimated that he had reduced his load to about 1,000 volumes.)

When he deploys Mattis always packs the Meditations of Marcus Aurelius, the Roman who was both a Stoic philosopher and an emperor. "It allows me to distance myself from the here and now," and to discern the connection to the eternal verities of warfare, he explained.

Mattis also objected to the Rumsfeld Pentagon's emphasis on "net-centric" warfare built around the movement of data. "Computers by their nature are isolating. They build walls. The nature of war is immutable: You need trust and connection." He dismissed the net-centric emphasis as "a Marxian view — it ignores the spiritual."

With his troops he tended to be earthier. "The first time you blow someone away is not an insignificant event," he told 200 Marines at a one session in al Asad. "That said, there are some assholes in the world that just need to be shot. There are hunters and there are victims. By your discipline, cunning, obedience and alertness, you will decide if you are a hunter or a victim. It's really a hell of a lot of fun. You're gonna have a blast out here!"

He finished in Pattonesque fashion: "I feel sorry for every son of a bitch that doesn't get to serve with you."

~~~~~

This warrior MEANS BUSINESS .. THANK GOD! I suspect he's gonna give some wimpy appeaser a run for his money.

[Gamecock]

Great Poster!

[STARWISE]

~~Ping !

[E.G.C.]

BTTT

[IrishCatholic]

The man knows how to communicate.

[xzins]

Mathis caved to John Murtha’s rant about Marines murdering in Haditha in cold blood. He then enabled the persecution of those Marines for going on 5 years now with Wuterich’s case still undecided. Mathis failed to admit to the UCI that a military appeals court upheld.

[STARWISE]

Thanks for the info. You think he’s guided
more by politics or victory?

[CTyank]

Has Patton reincarnated once again?

[Lady Jag]

[Oldexpat]

His outspoken attitude will get him in trouble with confirmation. Just watch. They will dredge up some of his statements and use them against him.

[xzins]

After McChrystal’s ouster there’s no doubt that he’s a political appointee. Two things prove it:

First, there’s no way that Mathis has permission to tell Petraeus how to conduct a war. That would be like having me instruct LeBron James on how to play basketball. He’ll be told to keep hands off and just do the paperwork.

Second, he’s Obama’s choice.

[Sawdring]

He doesn’t look like he gets much sleep. Looks like a man who knows what a nasty business war really is.

[Recon Dad]

Do nor let them disparage Mattis is the real deal. Everyone that served with him loves him.

[STARWISE]

We shall see ..

[Recon Dad]

Second, he’s Obama’s choice.

The Zero made a big mistake.

[Recon Dad]

Second, he’s Obama’s choice.

The Zero made a big mistake.

[xzins]

“Zero made a big mistake”....

No he didn’t.

Mathis rolled over on the Haditha Marines.

I wouldn’t trust him to lead my son.

[penelopesire]

Bambi is gonna be pissed....LOL!!

God Bless Our Military!!

[trapped_in_LA]

“Mathis caved to John Murtha’s rant about Marines murdering in Haditha in cold blood.”

Yep, only took rolling over on those Haditha Marines to get his fourth star and look what it’s gotten him now! No way would I trust him, he’s just another political hack.

[Patton@Bastogne]

Patton is indeed smiling ... this new general even likes Shakespeare ... bet he can quote the St. Crispin’s Day speech by heart ... BRAVO !