It's Fun

"... to shoot some people."

Major General J. N. Mattis, U.S. Marines Message to All Hands :

"For decades, Saddam Hussein has tortured, imprisoned, raped, and murdered the Iraqi people; invaded neighboring countries without provocation; and threatened the world with weapons of mass destruction. The time has come to end his reign of terror. On your young shoulders rest the hopes of mankind. You are part of the world's most feared and trusted force. Engage your brain before you engage your weapon. Share your courage with each other as we enter the uncertain terrain north of the Line of Departure. Keep faith in your comrades on your left and right and Marine Air overhead. Fight with a happy heart and strong spirit."

I wonder if Mattis removed Col. Joe W. Dowdy in April 2003 because Dowdy wasn't prepared to have fun. Mattis has a reputation of " being an extremely aggressive commander."

It's fun to shoot some people. Ask any napoleonic size commander who forgets to engage his brain before engaging his mouth. Such statements are forgiven, reasoning that's war, yammer yammer, unless of course it's "them" insurgents stating it's fun to shoot some of "us."

There were a couple of videos going around showing US troops killing "insurgents" with obvious ogasmic sound in their voice. Killing is one thing, getting off on it another. Maybe we'll need perpetual war - keep these men occupied somewhere else.