WASHINGTON, 5 February 2005 — The commander of the US Marine Corps admonished a three-star general Thursday and told him to choose his words “more carefully” after the general told a San Diego conference this week it was “a lot of fun to shoot” the enemy.
Lt. Gen. James Mattis, who commanded the 1st Marine Division in the 2003 Iraq invasion, is a revered figure among Marines for his fierce character and warrior ethos, but who also has a long record of encouraging Marines in his command to respect Arab culture and make every effort to protect the lives of civilians.
But on Tuesday while speaking to a forum about strategies for the war against terror, he said: “You go into Afghanistan, you got guys who slap women around for five years because they don’t wear a veil, 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’ remarks sparked instant criticism, including from Muslim American organizations who say he created the impression that he relished the act of killing Muslims.
But Marine commanders who know him, say that while his words were ill-considered, they were also taken out of context. They said Gen. Mattis was referring to Al-Qaeda, Taleban, Jihadis and former regime elements in his speech.
“Gen. Mattis is the epitome of a Marine war fighter. His comments were not well thought out, but he doesn’t enjoy killing people and he personally did not kill anybody during the war,” said Col. Michael Anderson, who served under Gen. Mattis and commanded the unit this correspondent was embedded with during the 2003 Iraqi invasion.
“Read his guidance to every Marine in the 1st Marine Division prior to deploying for Iraqi Freedom I and especially the guidance he sent prior to their redeployment. He emphasized humanitarianism, compassion and the need to treat people the way we ourselves like to be treated. He is the one who coined the phrase: ‘The First Marine Division: No better friend. No worse enemy.’
Gen. Mattis did not mean to denigrate any nationality, race or creed, said Col. Anderson. “He was talking about people who abuse other people. Because of his position, his choice of words were poor. For him it doesn’t matter where in the world he would do it, Afghanistan, Iraq, Bel-Air or Chevy Chase; he was speaking as an honorable man whose mission in life is to protect the innocent.”
Another Marine commander, who also served under Mattis, was equally supportive. Marines understand Gen. Mattis’ words, he said. “Yes, in some strange ways there is some satisfaction afterward in knowing that you came out the victor in a gunfight, especially against someone who is a brutal blasphemer of Islam and abuses people in a cowardly manner. Similar to bloodying the nose of the bully on the play ground.”
Col. Anderson added: “Please don’t vilify Mattis. If he is guilty of anything, it is for using poor judgment in the use of his words. But it was Mattis who had a mandatory reading program for all Staff and Officers giving them a basic understanding of Islam, the region, and the culture. He is a good Marine and someone we need,” said Anderson, currently a professor of Naval Science at Norwich University, the oldest private military college in the Untied States.
“What came out and what he meant are two different things,” said Col. Anderson. I’m in full support of him, he just needs to be more careful of what he says.”
