General Draws Fire for Saying 'It's Fun to Shoot' the Enemy

Lt. Gen. James Mattis made the comments Tuesday at a San Diego forum on tactics in fighting the Bush administration's war on terrorism. The general, known by troops as "Mad Dog" Mattis, is commanding general of the Marine Corps Combat Development Command in Quantico, Va.

His comments were criticized by American Muslims, and the Marines' top commander said he had "counseled" Mattis. Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld, speaking at a televised news conference after the furor erupted, said he had not seen Mattis' remarks and refused to discuss them.

Seated at a long table next to other military commanders, Mattis told about 200 people at the San Diego Convention Center: "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."

Mattis added: "You go into Afghanistan, you've got guys who slapped women around for five years because they didn'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."

His comments were met with laughter and applause from many in the audience of the forum, held by the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Assn. and the U.S. Naval Institute and sponsored by many top U.S. defense contractors.

But Thursday, after the comments were reported by San Diego television station KNSD, a prominent Muslim civil liberties group called on the Pentagon to discipline Mattis.

"We do not need generals who treat the grim business of war as a sporting event," said Nihad Awad, executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations. "These disturbing remarks are indicative of an apparent indifference to the value of human life."

Awad urged that "appropriate disciplinary action" be taken against Mattis.

Asked about the remarks at a Pentagon news conference, Marine Gen. Peter Pace, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said he would let Mattis address the issue himself.

"All of us who are leaders have a responsibility in our words and our actions to provide the right example all the time for those who look to us for leadership," Pace said.