US: A top US marine general is being "counselled" after telling an audience it was fun to shoot the enemy, the Pentagon said yesterday.
At a panel discussion in San Diego on Tuesday Lt Gen James Mattis told the audience, referring to Iraq: it is "fun to shoot some people . . . Actually, it's a lot of fun to fight. You know, it's a hell of a hoot. I like brawling."
He also said: "You go into Afghanistan, you got guys who slap 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."
Many in the military audience reportedly laughed but retired Vice Admiral Edward H. Martin said: "I don't think any of us who have ever fought in wars liked to kill anybody." Gen Mattis leads Camp Pendleton's 1st Marine Division in Iraq.