Free Republic

Lieutenant General James Mattis recently made comments at a forum in San Diego that are now pervading the news; he said, "It's fun to shoot some people... You go into Afghanistan, you got guys who slap 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." So of course, liberals have now become frantic in their revolted outrage. As the executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), Nihad Awad, said, "We do not need...

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 up front with you, I like brawling." Do we mean to say they shouldn't use all the goodies they were given in order to kill the enemy? Hell no. They should kill as many of the enemy as possible. A verbal "faux pas" is not something that these generals are schooled at. If they were schooled as politicians they would have given us some...

THE TRUTH ABOUT WAR By RALPH PETERS IN San Diego on Tuesday, I had the privilege of sitting beside Lt.-Gen. Jim Mattis, a Marine who knows how to fight. We were on a panel discussing future war. And Gen. Mattis, a Marine to the marrow of his bones, spoke honestly about the thrill of combat. Mattis has commanded at every level. In Desert Storm, he led a battalion. In Afghanistan and then in Iraq, he led with inspiration and courage. Everyone on our panel had opinions about war, but that no-nonsense Marine knew more about it than the rest of...

People! People! (My goodness, what a lot of standing around.) Oh, people! Yoo-hoo! Do fall in! Please? That’s better. Or getting better. You, Mister Private Johnson. Son? Yes, you. Could you please fall in, please? Thank you. Would you pretty please put out the cigarette? Why? Because, well … We don’t think you should smoke in ranks. It’s not good for your delicate health, which is always our first concern. Thank you, so much. Welcome to the new military, gentlemen. As you know, I was recently, uh, counseled with for my public comments about how it’s supposedly "fun to shoot...

I received this from my friend Kirby, a WW II P-38 Ace. Note that Maj. Gen. Mattis, who has been Stooge-slapped by the MSM for expressing his enthusiasm for killing the bad guys, is quoted here. To our Marines - THANK YOU!

To delight in war is a merit in the soldier, a dangerous quality in the captain, and a positive crime in the statesman. -- George Santayana I'd heard of U.S. Marine Gen. Jim Mattis from other Marines over the years and from news coverage of his own exploits. He was the blunt, bachelor general who had served nine tours of duty in the Middle East, including combat in Afghanistan and Iraq. He was the commander of the 1st Marine Division in the longest, fastest thrust of a division in Corps history -- that dash to Baghdad in 2003. I knew...

ARLINGTON, Va. — A major U.S. Islamic group has called for “appropriate disciplinary action” for the Marine general who said, “It’s fun to shoot some people.” “We do not need generals who treat the grim business of war as a sporting event,” Nihad Awad, director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, said in a statement. “These disturbing remarks are indicative of an apparent indifference to the value of human life.” The Washington-based CAIR’s stated mission is “to enhance understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.” Lt. Gen...

A senior Marine Corps general who said it was "fun to shoot some people" should have chosen his words more carefully but will not be disciplined, military officials said yesterday. Lt. Gen. James Mattis, who led troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, made the comments at a conference Tuesday in San Diego, Reuters news agency reports. "Actually it's quite fun to fight 'em, you know," said Gen. Mathis, who also called it "a hoot." "It's fun to shoot some people. I'll be right upfront with you, I like brawling." "You go into Afghanistan, you got guys who slap women around for...

ARLINGTON, Va. — A major U.S. Islamic group has called for “appropriate disciplinary action” for the Marine general who said, “It’s fun to shoot some people.” “We do not need generals who treat the grim business of war as a sporting event,” Nihad Awad, director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, said in a statement. “These disturbing remarks are indicative of an apparent indifference to the value of human life.” The Washington-based CAIR’s stated mission is “to enhance understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.” Lt. Gen...

Can we really hope to win the War on Terror if we are forced to fight it while being politically correct? Lieutenant General James Mattis USMC on war: “It’s a hell of a hoot. It’s fun to shoot some people.” Now he has been “counseled” by the Commandant of the Marine Corps. The media picked this up and some within it are trying to make him look like he is deranged. Ward Churchill is defended by the Denver Post's resident leftist shills, Reggie Rivers, Diane Carman and Jim Spencer, although they decry his words they say he has every right...

One Old Marine's comments as to all the "outrage" with General Mattis statements. In reference to all the "outrage" with General Mattis statements: These folks in the press doing the howling remind me of the scene in the movie, Casablanca, in which the Vichy police chief exclaims, "I'm Shocked! … SHOCKED!!! … to find gambling in Rick's Café! This place is hereby closed!" (As he discreetly slips his bribed "winnings" into his tunic pocket) So, here's my message all those like-minded similarly offended hand-wringers, sanctimonious back-benchers, and, others of the "oh, our sensibilities are so offended by such rouges and...

WASHINGTON (AP) - A Marine Corps general with battle awards is being counseled to watch his words more carefully after publicly observing that "it's fun to shoot some people." Lt. Gen. James Mattis, a career infantry office now in charge of developing ways to better train and equip Marines, also made fun of the manhood of Afghans during comments Tuesday while speaking at a forum in San Diego. On Thursday, Gen. Mike Hagee, the commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps, issued a statement of regret about Mattis' remarks, saying they reflected "the unfortunate and harsh realities of war." According to...

What this country needs is a Marine Corps filled with Alan Aldas. You know - sensitive men who would rather lounge around musing on the vicissitudes of life rather than sully their hands with the ugliness of war. That would appear to be the attitude of The Today Show, judging from its treatment of the story of Marine Lt. Gen. James Mattis, a career infantry officer, who has been called on the carpet. He was caught on tape at some gathering saying "it's fun to shoot some people." In fact, Mattis' full statement was, roughly: "guys in Afghanistan who have...

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,...

Press Release Source: Council on American-Islamic Relations Muslims Call For Pentagon Action Over General's Remarks Thursday February 3, 3:30 pm ET Commander of Marine Division in Iraq Says Shooting People is 'Fun' WASHINGTON, Feb. 3 /PRNewswire/ -- The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) today called on the Pentagon to discipline a top general who earlier this week said it is "fun to shoot some people." At a public event in San Diego, Calif., Lt. Gen. James Mattis said: "Actually, it's a lot of fun to fight. You know, it's a hell of a hoot ... You go into Afghanistan, you...

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." 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...

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A senior U.S. Marine Corps general who said it was "fun to shoot some people" should have chosen his words more carefully but will not be disciplined, military officials said on Thursday. Lt. Gen. James Mattis, who led troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, made the comments at a conference Tuesday in San Diego. "Actually it's quite fun to fight 'em, you know. It's a hell of a hoot. It's fun to shoot some people. I'll be right up front with you, I like brawling," said Mattis. "You go into Afghanistan, you got guys who slap women around...

This is a letter, reprinted with permission, from Major General James Mattis, the Commanding officer of the 1st MEF in Iraq. The General and I served on the same ship off Iran in 1980 when I was a young Corporal and he was a young Captain. I was not one of his troops, but I still keep in touch with some men that were. He is highly spoken of, and his record since 9/11 is exemplary.