Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: oboe on February 04, 2005, 09:56:00 AM
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I may be cynical and pessimistic about alot that's going on nowdays, but I do appreciate this Marine's fighting spirit. I don't see anything wrong with his attitude - as long as he's not putting his men in unecessarily risky situations, condoning torture of prisoners, etc. We're in a fight now, so we might as well have guys leading over there who don't shy away from getting the job done. He's not any worse than Patton was, by a long shot.
Lt. Gen. James Mattis, 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."
He's in trouble now for these comments, and has to go to 'counseling'.
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Originally posted by oboe
I may be cynical and pessimistic about alot that's going on nowdays, but I do appreciate this Marine's fighting spirit. I don't see anything wrong with his attitude - as long as he's not putting his men in unecessarily risky situations, condoning torture of prisoners, etc. We're in a fight now, so we might as well have guys leading over there who don't shy away from getting the job done. He's not any worse than Patton was, by a long shot.
He's in trouble now for these comments, and has to go to 'counseling'.
It's political. He was stupid enough to say it publicly. What does everyone think soldiers are trained to do? Plant daisies?
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what was wrong with what he said?
lazs
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Originally posted by lazs2
what was wrong with what he said?
lazs
Its politically incorrect. As military leader you are supposed to shun combat and do it because you have too. Some would say hes looking for too much "fun" at the expense of the lives of his men. Not knowing him, I have no opinion but it sounds like that is not the case.
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Is he the new Dale Carnegie* ?
* the writer of "How to Win Friends and Influence People" for those not know :)
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Originally posted by straffo
Is he the new Dale Carnegie* ?
* the writer of "How to Win Friends and Influence People" for those not know :)
Heh, my Fraternity brothers got me that book in college. I can't imagine why.
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Originally posted by Martlet
Heh, my Fraternity brothers got me that book in college. I can't imagine why.
hmmm... I had a wobly chair it helped me solve this :)
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much bs about nothing.
Just sounds like a Marine who likes being a Marine to me.
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Originally posted by GtoRA2
much bs about nothing.
Just sounds like a Marine who likes being a Marine to me.
I agree. Hell he gets paid to kill and right now business is booming. Got to admire a man who loves his job.
Lt. Gen. James Mattis.
:aok
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Originally posted by Martlet
Heh, my Fraternity brothers got me that book in college. I can't imagine why.
LOL
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Thats why I'm not a soldier! I don't see fun in shooting people!
Actualy nor do a lot of the old WW2 vets I've spoken to for that matter. ( talked to many at last years DDay 60th anniversary in Normandy.
The only people I can think of who might have said that in WW2 were wearing double lightening flashes on their collar!
Sorry but I think the guy wasa bit of an idiot for saying it. Still a braver idiot than me I expect.
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Good with some freespoken people that does´nt hide what they enjoy. And, well the enemy is the enemy.
Poor guy, the press and media is gonna skin him alive.
Damn the double standards of USA.
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We need to worry when a MARINE General does not say something like that.
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He should have realised he was not auditioning for the remake of "Full Metal Jacket". Even R. Lee Ermey has enough sense not to make statements like that when there are microphones around. Yeah, Patton made statements like that during a time of war. He also got fried by Eisenhower for making them.
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Originally posted by rpm
He also got fried by Eisenhower for making them.
Was he dipped in batter first?
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Originally posted by rpm
He should have realised he was not auditioning for the remake of "Full Metal Jacket". Even R. Lee Ermey has enough sense not to make statements like that when there are microphones around. Yeah, Patton made statements like that during a time of war. He also got fried by Eisenhower for making them.
He got fied by Ike for making statements. Usually political ones
But not for statements like that he didnt.
Stements like that usually got him cheers, Not jeers.
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I actually want US Marines to have a Gung Ho attitude, but he should have known better than to say that with a live mic in front of him.
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Originally posted by rpm
I actually want US Marines to have a Gung Ho attitude, but he should have known better than to say that with a live mic in front of him.
Why? Because he has to play to people that feel that they can dictate what he should think?
The man is a fighting general of the U.S. Marine Corps and says it like he sees it....... he doesn't owe anyone any appolagies. Especially to the people complaining about it. They should just say thank you for serving and keep their mouths shut.
RPM btw not attacking you. Just launched this from your post.
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Chances that guy has hurt his carreer.
zero.
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I still think I'd like a guy with that much responsibilty to have a little more brains!
I heard A US officer in Iraq interviewed on TV recently and he said he "knew who the enemy was and his name was satan!" Its a bit worrying don't you think.
Comic book characters in real life the pair of em.
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That's the kind of commander I'd like to serve under any day.
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Then your avatar is probably a real picture of you!!!! :rofl
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i thought the military gave out "cue cards" on what to say to the media.
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Sounds like they need to!:rofl
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Why? Well not to be confused with Jerry Falwell or anything, but the Bible says killing is wrong. Granted there are situations where you have no choice, such as war, but you should always remember that you should get no joy from it. Perhaps Sgt. York is an example that the General should draw from.
Was he talking about killing some very bad dudes that deserved what they got? Yes he was and they did. I'm sure he is a great battlefield leader, but he chose a poor forum to express his opinion.
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I concur.
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Whats the problem in what he said?
The insurgents and terrorist will use this guy as a prime example of the evil americans, that they're there to murder their children and women in cold blood... evil savages... wah wah wah...
Get the point? Bad bad publicity for the US, but free propaganda for the opposing forces.
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Yep thats right too.
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so you say it's ok to kill the enemy, you just have to feel bad about killing them?
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Originally posted by john9001
so you say it's ok to kill the enemy, you just have to feel bad about killing them?
No,
Nothing wrong with having enthusiasm for what you do but always understand that what you say can be looked at in other ways that will inflict more harm than good on your cause.
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this kinda reminds me when a general or admiral (cant remember wich) made comments to the press in reguards to 2 marines and 1 sailor raped a 13 year old okinawa girl.
He said "for the price they paid for their rental car they used they could have just baught a hooker"
he was promplty fired
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I honestly feel that most people can't stomach the thought of killing someone. Marines are no exception.
The man is coping with the job. I say cut him some slack.
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in reguards to this guys statements as a general he should have a little more tact BUT these are the exact type of warriors you need looking out for you sons/daughters/brother/sisters serving in the Marines.
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Dumb thing to say, but I won't lose sleep over it.
Patton lost his command over stupid remarks that were probably more innocent than these remarks.
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Exactly Guns. I don't want a touchy-feely guy in charge of a Marine battalion. At the same time I don't want a General that can't distinguish the difference between a battlefield pep talk with his troops and a press conference with reporters. He doesn't deserve to lose his job, but he does need some refresher training with public relations. His intentions were good, his choice of words were not.
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It's sort of like those Marines who shot the wounded iraqi insurgent. I have nothing wrong with that, nor will I ever miss that guy. But learn to watch what you do when a ****ing camera is rolling. The sheeple can react really badly.
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Not a really smart thing to say out in the public domain but it is gung ho and I guess thats what Marines do.