Do you agree with General Mattis, USMC?

Taking anothers life is necessary sometimes but I will never find it fun.

The remarks which were made and quoted were made at a private gathering and never meant to be released to the press, but someone who was there, was looking to get in good with those with political clout. Jim was a scrapper--at least the guy I knew briefly in college was. No, he didn't start the fights, but he sure as heck would finish them. He was also one who stood on principles. If someone thought his manhood was increased by knocking around a woman, Jim was the type to want to show him how small that sort of manhood actually is.

thank you, for the explanation. I didn't know what to think

He is an interesting man. I'm proud to be able to say that I once knew him, though that was decades ago.

awesome!

He is someone I would want to live with.

LOL! I'd like to meet up with him again, myself.

Good luck with that!

LOL! If I ever do, I'll let you know. ;)

OK!

Right before my idiot ex left, he was actually in email correspondence with his old friend. Ex told me that Mattis said he remembered me as a very pretty lady. Should have dated him, I guess, but Mattis is married to the marines.

Never had a girlfriend?

Oh, yes. Almost married at least once that I know of and certainly had many when I knew him in college. Definitely not gay, either, I'd say.

so not really married to the marines - isn´t he?

Let me put it this way: He puts his profession and the corps before any relationship.

understandable - so you seem to know him pretty well.

I knew him once upon a time, and I also knew about the boy growing up through my ex.

Shows what war does to a guy..why the heck are we there?

I agree. It's interesting to think of the Jim I once knew with this stranger, the general.

kill em....

That comment sparked controversy and General Michael Hagee, Commandant of the Marine Corps, issued a statement suggesting that Mattis should have chosen his words more carefully, but would not be disciplined. Following a Pentagon survey that showed only 55% of soldiers and 40% of Marines would report a colleague for abusing civilians, Mattis told his Marines in May 2007, “Whenever you show anger or disgust toward civilians, it's a victory for Al Qaeda and other insurgents.” Reflecting an understanding of the need for restraint in war as key to defeating an insurgency, he added that, "Every time you wave at an Iraqi civilian, Al Qaeda rolls over in its grave." A closer reflection of the real man behind the face.

The original quote from Mattis was something said at a closed dinner or the like. No press were there, but pentagon goons released the quote in an effort to put Mattis in a very unfavorable light. I suspect, from the slight acquaintance I have with Jim, that they wanted him to eat humble pie in the press and he refused. He probably already was ticked with the politics, after the mess they made in Fallujah. Jim is known as a master strategist, which is what got him as far as he has gone. His advice in Iraq was ignored, notably that for taking Fallujah. He further ticked off the political arm of the military when he told them he wasn't going to risk the lives of marines to make a show for them, or something like that.

As I mentioned briefly, my ex and Mattis go way back--grew up together. Ex told me once that when they were in elementary school, Mattis had a great interest in the Marine Corps. As a school assignment, they had to write a letter to someone. He wrote to the commandant of the marine corps asking how you became commandant of the corps.

I just love the line:
"He wrote to the commandant of the marine corps asking how you became commandant of the corps."

Fantastic!

Interesting and true. He actually sent the letter and told the man that he wanted that job someday.

Never heard of him