Friday, February 4, 2005
WASHINGTON (CNN) — A three-star Marine general who said it was "fun to shoot some people" should have chosen his words more carefully, the Marine Corps commandant said Thursday.
Lt. Gen. James Mattis (pictured above), who commanded Marine expeditions in Afghanistan and Iraq, made the comments Tuesday during a panel discussion in San Diego, California.
"Actually it's quite fun to fight them, you know. It's a hell of a hoot," Mattis said, prompting laughter from some military members in the audience. "It's fun to shoot some people. I'll be right up there with you. I like brawling.
"You go into Afghanistan, you got guys who slap women around for five years because they didn't wear a veil," Mattis said. "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' press office has not yet responded to a request to answer questions about his comments.
However, the Marine commandant, Gen. Michael Hagee, defended Mattis, calling him "one of this country's bravest and most experienced military leaders."
"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," he said in a written statement. "Lt. Gen. Mattis often speaks with a great deal of candor."
Hagee said he had counseled Mattis regarding the remarks and that Mattis "agrees he should have chosen his words more carefully."
"Throughout our history, Marines have given their lives in the defense of this nation and human rights around the globe," Hagee's statement read. "When necessary, this commitment 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."
"Lt. Gen. Mattis is a superb leader and one of the Corps' most courageous and experienced warriors," Hagee wrote. "I remain confident that he will continue to serve this nation with dedication and distinction."
Added Marine Gen. Peter Pace, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, "The last three times that that general has been in combat, when he was leading Marines in Afghanistan and the two times that he led his division in Iraq, his actions and those of his troops clearly show that he understands the value of proper leadership and the value of human life."
Pace spoke Thursday during a Pentagon briefing. He declined to comment directly on Mattis' comments.
Early in his career, Mattis served as a rifle and weapons platoon commander as a lieutenant and later a captain. He also commanded assault battalions in Operation Desert Storm and Desert Shield. He was the commander of the 1st Marine Division for the initial attack on Iraq.
San Diego television station KNSD, which calls itself NBC 7/39, captured Mattis' Tuesday comments on video and interviewed a retired military man afterward who said the general's remarks were "flippant."
"I was a little surprised," said retired Vice Adm. Edward H. Martin. "I don't think any of us who have ever fought in wars liked to kill anybody."
Comments by www.Jesus-is-Savior.com's webmaster:
I'd like to say just a few words here. The news article reads...
"A three-star Marine general who said it was "fun to shoot some people" should have chosen his words more carefully, the Marine Corps commandant said Thursday."
Chose his words more carefully? How could you reword the self-gratifying thrill (fun) of shooting "some" people? I think the greater concern here is not so much the general's words, but the fact that he would enjoy killing anyone in the first place! It does not surprise me that men who are far from God would say such dishonorable things. Yet, the American people pay his salary. I would seriously question the mental stability of anyone who enjoyed killing "some people." I realize that some of the folks in the military are in stark disagreement with the general's comments. Yet, why is he in a position of authority over others. It is sad that Americans would send a "killing machine" to devastate a nation with no legitimate reason to do it. Where are the weapons of mass destruction? Where are the ties linking Iraq to 911? This is so wrong!
My other concern is how many "some people" did he shoot? Mattis further made these comments...
"You go into Afghanistan, you got guys who slap women around for five years because they didn't wear a veil," Mattis said. "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."
The American people should be alarmed by this type of talk. The American people were all led by the Bush administration into believing that Saddam Hussein was the bad guy, not the Iraqi people. According to the General, it's the tyrant men of Iraq as well as Saddam. What right does Mattis have to stereotype the men of Iraq? What right do godless Americans have to dictate to Arab families what is right. Who are we fighting over there anyway? It is sickening as an American to watch our troops kill so many innocent people in Iraq. I am 100% against the Iraqi invasion. What did the Iraqi people do to deserve this? For that matter, what did Saddam do? Did he threaten to attack the United States? No, he did NOT!
It's sickening to listen to brainwashed people defend the invasion of Iraq by continually demonizing Saddam Hussein. Folks, he's history...so why are we still shooting people in Iraq? There's leaders just like Saddam all around the world. Why Iraq? Considering Dick Cheney's strong former ties to Halliburton and the NO BID contract which Halliburton was handed on a silver platter...It doesn't take a college degree to clearly see what's happening here. The Iraqi people have already been robbed of $8,000,000,000 from their government's funds, now they're going to lose their trillions in oil as well. Will Iraq be rebuilt? How much of the American tax-payer's $280,000,000,000 is really going to fund the "war" and rebuild Iraq? Something smells here and it's coming from The White House and their world occult leaders. If Iraq is rebuilt, it may become the center for the New World Order.
Our goal according to the Bush administration was to removed Saddam Hussein from power, yet it appears that hundreds-of-thousands of Iraqis don't want to be liberated. Why would so many men fight 'til the death for a failed DICTATOR?
I must say this as well...America is the most hypocritical nation on the face of the earth. Yes, I love my country and I am NOT anti-government. I am NOT a lefty and certainly NOT a Republican or a Democrat. I am an American CITIZEN, and a born-again Christian as well. Who are Americans to shove human right's abuse allegations into the face of the rest of the world, while we continue to murder millions of little healthy babies through godless and murderous abortions? Who are we to invade Iraq and overthrow their government? Where are those weapons of mass destruction? Excuse me, but you don't break a person's door down and kill them based upon "circumstantial evidence." You don't invade a sovereign nation and start shooting people...period! We were NOT under any attack. There is not one shred of evidence linking Saddam Hussein with 911. What gives us the right to judge, convict and then execute punishment upon another nation? What if Russia did that to the U.S.? What if Russia forced us to stop murdering children and came over killing Americans in the streets? We would be outraged. We would fight to the finish.
Truthfully, the people of Iraq have been wrongfully attacked and are defending their own country while we continue to preach Democracy to them. Democracy? Those people in Iraq didn't have a legitimate election, they were given the choice to vote for Bush appointed candidates. America is in 100% control of the Iraqi people, their OIL, and their future. Freedom? I think not.
No doubt, there are many more personnel in the military who think like James Mattis. With the continuous news reports of torture, forced sodomy, violence, rapes, and the testimonies of many disgruntled soldiers...it surely reveals a dark evil at work against the Iraqi people. I am not against the U.S. military, but each individual soldier needs to question (something they're NOT allowed to do) the morality of what they are being paid to do. They need to think about the people they're hurting and killing. Did we really need to invade Iraq?
You know, I'm sure there are plenty of foreigners who would have fun shooting some Americans (especially because of Iraq). But that would be wrong, just as what we are doing to Iraq is wrong. I heard one woman from South Korea say that her people are very angry at the "United States." She didn't mention George Bush. Sadly, American citizens like me get blamed for the ill-actions of our leaders. I am not a murderer, I am against the whole Iraqi situation. I did not vote for Bush, my hands are clean of this blood.
I am NOT a lefty or a Communist. I am a Christian with the freedom to think for myself. I am not restricted by military or religious dogmas. I believe the Bible is God's Final Authority. The Bible clearly commands us not to murder. America was not defending freedom by invading Iraq because we were never attacked by Iraq to begin with; on the contrary, we attacked them.
END
"Evil triumphs when good men do nothing" —Thomas Jefferson.
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