Current Events

TOPICS:

Previous

PAGE: 

1 ... 

279 | 280 | 281

 ... 487

Next

Previous

PAGE: 

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6

 ... 8

Next

Snottlebocket

Snottlebocket

Netherlands
March 2004

FEB 04, 2005 10:31 AM

"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."


Those are the words spoken by a American soldier, a general no less, during a panel discussion in San Diego, California. Lt. Gen. James Mattis has commanded marine teams during operations in Afghanistan.

I understand that soldiers are under a lot of stress during combat and sometimes shit happens but it is appalling when America's migthy defenders of freedom start talking like that. I would hope that every soldier, especially a general, knows the value of life and the reality of what they're doing.

irishinch

irishinch

Forestdale, MA
August 2003

FEB 04, 2005 02:05 PM

so you're saying its ok for them to slap women around because they aren't wearing a veil......

bean

bean

STAFF

Los Angeles, CA

FEB 04, 2005 02:06 PM

irishinch said:
so you're saying its ok for them to slap women around because they aren't wearing a veil......


You're kidding, right?

overview

overview

United Kingdom
August 2004

FEB 04, 2005 02:07 PM

Its just ignorance of different cultures.

I'm not saying that its right to slap a woman for not wearing a veil, but an afgan man wouldnt think its right for women to enter into pornography......

Twwly

Twwly

SUICIDEGIRL

Ontario, Canada

FEB 04, 2005 02:09 PM

Seriously...desensitized. But I doubt there is another way for him to be to perform his job.

Sad.

plasticfangs

plasticfangs

Portland, OR
OLD SKOOL

FEB 04, 2005 02:10 PM

irishinch said:
so you're saying its ok for them to slap women around because they aren't wearing a veil......



1) Abusing women, while morally reprehensible (at least, in our culture), is still not grounds for murder, even in the US.

2) You know for a fact that no one is defending spousal abuse.

3)If you're trying to be funny, at least put in a smile , tongue , or wink to clarify.

stuzzy

stuzzy

Seattle, WA
June 2004

FEB 04, 2005 02:11 PM

no wonder some veterans have a hard time adjusting after a war.

Hussein

Hussein

I'm lost
March 2004

FEB 04, 2005 02:11 PM

to answer the question, for some people the answer is apparently yes.

hermetica

hermetica

Cook Islands
January 2004

FEB 04, 2005 02:16 PM


"So it's a hell of a lot of fun to shoot them."



Whaaaa???
Since when is it supposed to be 'a helluva lot of fun' to kill people?
So, lets see..if its American soldiers who get shot, its a tragedy and a loss (regardless of whether they are abusive at home or not), but if its Iraqi soldiers who get shot(regardless of whether they are abusive or not), its 'fun'.

The hypocrisy is almost unbearable.

'its a helluva lot of fun'..
I think I'm going to be sick.
mad puke puke

irishinch

irishinch

Forestdale, MA
August 2003

FEB 04, 2005 02:18 PM

irishinch said:
so you're saying its ok for them to slap women around because they aren't wearing a veil......



just playing devil's advocate

mcflury

mcflury

New York, NY
April 2004

FEB 04, 2005 02:20 PM

hermetica said:

"So it's a hell of a lot of fun to shoot them."



Whaaaa???
Since when is it supposed to be 'a helluva lot of fun' to kill people?
So, lets see..if its American soldiers who get shot, its a tragedy and a loss (regardless of whether they are abusive at home or not), but if its Iraqi soldiers who get shot(regardless of whether they are abusive or not), its 'fun'.

The hypocrisy is almost unbearable.

'its a helluva lot of fun'..
I think I'm going to be sick.
mad puke puke



mcflury

mcflury

New York, NY
April 2004

FEB 04, 2005 02:21 PM

what it is is what it is

TANKMUTT

TANKMUTT

Iraq
September 2004

FEB 04, 2005 02:22 PM

shut the fuck up.you know jack shit.

troglodyte

troglodyte

Victoria, BC
May 2003

FEB 04, 2005 02:24 PM

TANKMUTT said:
shut the fuck up.you know jack shit.


Hard to argue with that...

Hussein

Hussein

I'm lost
March 2004

FEB 04, 2005 02:25 PM

so all that talk about sacrifice, "war is hell" and all that, is just bullshit?

it's actually fun?

is it still fun when the enemy kills your friends instead of you killing the enemy?

plasticfangs

plasticfangs

Portland, OR
OLD SKOOL

FEB 04, 2005 02:26 PM

TANKMUTT said:
shut the fuck up.you know jack shit.



Okay. Clarification, please?

Sen

Sen

USA
January 2004

FEB 04, 2005 02:29 PM

troglodyte said:

TANKMUTT said:
shut the fuck up.you know jack shit.


Hard to argue with that...



Sure is.
Anyone who hasn't shot an Iragi doesn't have the right to talk, because they don't know how fun it is.

whatever surreal

venomkid

venomkid

I'm lost
January 2003

FEB 04, 2005 02:32 PM

I have this weird feeling that the people getting so up in arms about this haven't even been around or known anyone military, or a least lack the most basic understanding of the culture.

He's a marine. He was addressing other military people. He made a joke. Yeah, it wasn't in particularly good taste to civilians, but then again neither is what these soldiers do, which is kill people and break things for the US government, ostensibly in defense of its people.

All this outrage feels so goddamn disingenuous. It's disappointing.

Snottlebocket

Snottlebocket

Netherlands
March 2004

FEB 04, 2005 02:35 PM

i don't feel that way, i'm sure there's such a thing as inside humour for soldiers but those remarks were crossing the line so far that i feel soldiers should have been as disgusted and outraged as the rest of us.

personally i question if that man has any humanity left and as such is still fit to lead armed forces that are supposedly meant to keep peace through superior firepower or whatever fancy name you want to give it.

bean

bean

STAFF

Los Angeles, CA

FEB 04, 2005 02:42 PM

irishinch said:

irishinch said:
so you're saying its ok for them to slap women around because they aren't wearing a veil......



just playing devil's advocate



But you're so not doing a very good job at it. See the comments above regarding the fact that nobody is defending slapping women around for not wearing veils, and that, while a morally reprehensible act, it's not grounds for death.

Besides, regardless of whether or not someone has committed morally reprehensible acts, a three-star general is supposed to have a bit more decorum than that.

bean

bean

STAFF

Los Angeles, CA

FEB 04, 2005 02:47 PM

dkmfc said:
I want a pacifist in charge of a marine combat unit.


I don't think anyone is suggesting that people in charge of a marine combat unit should be unwilling to take a human life, but to delight in it to the point of joking about it in public, in front of reporters, is out of line for a three-star general.

darwinsjoke

darwinsjoke

Virginia Beach, VA
July 2003

FEB 04, 2005 02:48 PM

this is a marine general here people, marines don't do PC, marines break shit and kill people. its part of their job description and they are all highly motivated people who are very good at their job. but i will also grant that this isn't a very good thing to say in front of civilians.

edited cause i'm an idiot who forgot to check for errors before posting. smile smile


[Edited on Feb 04, 2005 by darwinsjoke]

EndedBen

EndedBen

Grand Rapids, MI
August 2004

FEB 04, 2005 02:51 PM

bean said:

dkmfc said:
I want a pacifist in charge of a marine combat unit.


I don't think anyone is suggesting that people in charge of a marine combat unit should be unwilling to take a human life, but to delight in it to the point of joking about it in public, in front of reporters, is out of line for a three-star general.


What's the difference between this general and the any number of grunts and lower ranking guys who are profiled by reporters and journalists? In the past three years I've read dozens of articles about these guys (Rolling Stone had a great series of articles awhile back) and they do and say and think things dramatically worse. What he said didn't shock me in the least and I'm surprised it's not a more common occurance.

Vanuslux

Vanuslux

Atlanta, GA
February 2004

FEB 04, 2005 03:00 PM

Oh please...what a lame thing to get worked up over. A marine likes to kill...big fucking surprise, big fucking deal.

EdmundOG

EdmundOG

I'm lost
July 2004

FEB 04, 2005 03:01 PM

bean said:

dkmfc said:
I want a pacifist in charge of a marine combat unit.


I don't think anyone is suggesting that people in charge of a marine combat unit should be unwilling to take a human life, but to delight in it to the point of joking about it in public, in front of reporters, is out of line for a three-star general.



Come on, guy's only got 3 stars, go easy on him.

Previous

PAGE: 

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6

 ... 8

Next