I don't like this man!

U.S. General Says It Is 'Fun to Shoot Some People'
By Will Dunham

Thu Feb 3, 2005 03:08 PM ET

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 for five years because they didn't wear a veil," Mattis said during a panel discussion. "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."

In a statement, Gen. Michael Hagee, commander of the Marine Corps, praised Mattis as "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," Hagee said.

"I have counseled him concerning his remarks and he agrees he should have chosen his words more carefully," Hagee added.

Maj. Jason Johnston, a Marine spokesman at the Pentagon, said Hagee did not plan any disciplinary action against Mattis. Johnston declined to provide details of how Hagee had counseled Mattis, calling it a private matter.

At a Pentagon briefing on Thursday, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said he could not comment on the remarks, but Gen. Peter Pace, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, praised the general as having set a stellar example for troops in his service abroad.

Mattis is commander of the Marine Corps Combat Development Command at Quantico, Virginia, south of Washington.

© Reuters 2005. All Rights Reserved.




Yeah alright, I get what he's saying. When you're out there it's probably a whole lot different than sitting at home thinking about it. But this was said at a conference. A "lets sit down and talk about stuff" place, not an enemy in sight.

"So it's a hell of a lot of fun to shoot them"

Fun? FUN???

Now that is where the understanding me stops, blinks twice and goes "excuse me??"

"Gen. Peter Pace, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, praised the general as having set a stellar example for troops in his service abroad."

He could have meant that Lt. Gen. Mattis had set a great example in general, how he's fought for his country and been a good soldier. But here we read that Rumsfeld couldn't comment on Mattis' statements, Pace did instead, and said Mattis had set 'a stellar example'. Now I'm just hoping Reuters took this out of context and Pace actually did mean what I wrote above. Otherwise... well, should people go around saying it should be fun to kill others?

Even if there's a war? Even if you're a general?

I'm just asking....