Gen Mattis: Iraq Invasion "the dumbest thing we ever did" (Scientic American)

[kpete]

Jul 27, 2010 08:55 AM in Basic Science | 3 comments
Obama's choice for warrior-in-chief, Gen. James Mattis, calls Iraq invasion "the dumbest thing we ever did"

James N. Mattis is the four-star Marine general whom Barack Obama just nominated to head the U.S. Central Command, with oversight of the U.S. wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. If confirmed by the Senate (a hearing is set for today), Mattis will replace David Petraeus, who took over command of troops in Afghanistan from Stanley McChrystal after he and his staff spoke too bluntly to a Rolling Stone reporter.

The irony is that Mattis is a tough talker too, who got in trouble in 2005 for saying that "it's fun to shoot some people." (Imagine that! A warrior who likes war!) I heard Mattis speak in May, just before his promotion, at the "Hybrid Warfare" conference that I described in a previous post. I'm not one to fawn over military leaders, but I liked Mattis. He came across as smart, earnest and reflective, if a bit scatterbrained. He sees himself as a just warrior, but he also seems to have an acute sense of war's inevitable moral ambiguities. "There is probably no one in this room more reluctant to go fight than me," he said. "But once in a fight, I give it everything I've got."

Below are highlights from Mattis's rambling, hour-long, unscripted talk, which should give a sense of the substance and style of the man. In terms of news value, two passages stand out. Mattis charged Russia with sending "thugs and animals" into Georgia in 2008 to commit atrocities, which provided an excuse for the later invasion by regular Russian troops. I was also surprised by Mattis's suggestion that the 2003 invasion of Iraq "was the dumbest thing we ever did." (He nonetheless insists that the U.S. must now win the war in Iraq and Afghanistan.) I've edited Mattis's remarks, and in some cases shifted their order.

more:
http://www.scientificamerican.com/blog/post.cfm?id=americas-warrior-in-chief-speaks-ou-2010-07-27

[msongs]

1. A fine example of how we are in our current situation. "Scientific American"? nt

[BakedAtAMileHigh]

2. just another violent, angry white man

looking to shoot some brown people. Awesome nomination, Mr. Prez. Thanks.