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February 5, 2005
Gen Mattis: Further Discussion
[See my first post about Gen Mattis' comments here.]
One thing I've failed to mention on this blog before is that I was invited to join something called the National Security Roundtable last month. The Roundtable is a forum of former and current active and reserve officers from all services (appears I am the only Marine though). Several national security reporters also contribute. The list is administered by Michael Noonan of the Foreign Policy Research Institute. The discussions are viewable by the public, but only members can comment.
Right now, there is quite a debate going on about General Mattis' recent comments. Check it out here.
UPDATE [8:08pm]: Being a Marine, I often get emails from other Marines who've put together some quotes about Marines. We are all obsessed of course. I got one such email this week, and it contained a quote I had not heard before. I think it applies to this current kerfuffle with Gen Mattis quite well:
An Anonymous Canadian Citizen:
"Marines are about the most peculiar breed of human beings I have ever witnessed. They treat their service as if it was some kind of cult, plastering their emblem on almost everything they own, making themselves up to look like insane fanatics with haircuts so short as to be ungentlemanly, worshipping their Commandant as if he was a god, and making weird animal noises like a band of savages. They'll fight like rabid dogs at the drop of a hat just for the sake of a little action and are the cockiest SOBs I've ever known. Most have the foulest mouths and drink well beyond man's normal limits, but their high spirits and sense of brotherhood set them apart and, generally speaking, of the United States Marines with whom I've come in contact, are the most professional warriors and the finest men I've had the pleasure to meet."
UPDATE [10:10p] University of Michigan History Professor Juan Cole has weighed in with his thoughts on this matter (ht: Stop the Bleating!):
Just as few priests are pedophiles, few soldiers are sadists. Mattis has brought dishonor on the US Marine Corps with his words. Killing is never appropriately called "fun." I think he should resign.Well, I can't speak for soldiers, but I will guarantee you this: There are three types of Marines I've ever met: sadists, masochists, and sadomasochists. Personally, I fall into the masochist camp, as anyone who looks at the time stamps on many of my posts and remembers that I have a day job will realize. We Marines desire what George Bernard Shaw called "a purpose that is a mighty one" in which we are "thoroughly used up," and in striving for that moment, our masochism in training ourselves, and our sadism in training our subordinates is rarely tempered.
UPDATE [10:43p] Just had a thought: if some PFC or Lance Corporal made a comment about killing bad guys being fun, it would no doubt be reported in an "aww, that's so sad what that innocent teenager has become. Too bad he was duped into joining the military, the poor rube. Shame on the horrors of war" - type manner. Heh.
Posted by Chester at February 5, 2005 6:31 PM
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