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.”
