General Is Scolded for Saying, 'It's Fun to Shoot Some People'

WASHINGTON, Feb. 3 - A senior Marine general who commanded forces in Iraq and Afghanistan has been admonished by the commandant of the Marine Corps for saying publicly, "It's fun to shoot some people."

Lt. Gen. James N. Mattis, an infantry officer who is a revered figure among marines for his fierce demeanor and warrior ethos, made the comments on Tuesday while speaking to a forum in San Diego about strategies for the war against terror.

According to an audio recording of General Mattis's remarks obtained by The Associated Press, 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."

General 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."

On Thursday, Gen. Michael W. 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." General Hagee added, "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."

General Mattis is now the commanding officer of the Marine Corps Combat Development Command in Quantico, Va., which is responsible for developing Marine war-fighting doctrine, techniques and tactics. A spokeswoman for the general said he agreed that he should have chosen his words more carefully and that he considered the matter closed.

The general is no stranger to controversy. After marines under his command seized an airstrip in Afghanistan at the start of the war against the Taliban, he declared, "The Marines have landed, and we now own a piece of Afghanistan."

The remark grated on Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld, who with other Pentagon officials considered the remark impolitic given the administration's stated goal that the United States was freeing Afghanistan from the tyranny of the Taliban, not seizing land in a Muslim nation.

As commander of the First Marine Division in the Iraq war, General Mattis ordered his force on a high-speed race from Kuwait to Baghdad, sowing confusion among Iraqi units along the way with the maneuver.

When one of his regimental commanders, Col. Joe D. Dowdy, was not aggressive enough for General Mattis, the general stripped the subordinate of his battlefield command, a highly unusual step in wartime.

At a Pentagon briefing on Thursday, Mr. Rumsfeld said he had not read General Mattis's remarks and declined to comment on them.

Gen. Peter Pace, a Marine officer who is vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said at the same briefing that he would let General Mattis speak for himself.

"But I will tell you," General Pace said, "that 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."

___________________
You have one life to live... SO DANCE!

www.protonradio.com <--- A Higher Experience.