New CENTCOM Commander, LTG Mattis - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

#1 07-09-2010, 03:31 PM

Look, another general officer who is about to decide that he "needs to spend more time with his family" and/or that it's time to "persue other interests.". How do these guys make it to this level without knowing how to keep stupid comments to themselves?

Txjake · #2 07-09-2010, 03:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Craig

Look, another general officer who is about to decide that he "needs to spend more time with his family" and/or that it's time to "persue other interests.". How do these guys make it to this level without knowing how to keep stupid comments to themselves?

he made that one quite a while back. before he got promoted to CENTCOM commander. He is generally thought of as a great commander and is well loved by his troops.

#3 07-09-2010, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Txjake

he made that one quite a while back. before he got promoted to CENTCOM commander. He is generally thought of as a great commander and is well loved by his troops.

I have no opinion of his qualifications, I'm just saying that these guys can't get away with stuff like this and they should know better. It's unfortunate when the military loses qualified officers because they don't know when to shut up.

Txjake · #4 07-09-2010, 04:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Craig

I have no opinion of his qualifications, I'm just saying that these guys can't get away with stuff like this and they should know better. It's unfortunate when the military loses qualified officers because they don't know when to shut up.

The quote the newsies are so wrung up about is a couple of years old....no story....

oh have you ever heard some of the quotes fom the Generals of WWII?

to whit:

Admitral William "Bull" Halsey: “"Kill Japs, Kill Japs, Kill more Japs!'”

General Curtis Lemay: "If you kill enough of them, they stop fighting"

General George Patton: "Battle is the most magnificent competition in which a human being can indulge. It brings out all that is best; it removes all that is base. All men are afraid in battle. The coward is the one who lets his fear overcome his sense of duty. Duty is the essence of manhood."

Get the picture?

#5 07-09-2010, 04:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Txjake

The quote the newsies are so wrung up about is a couple of years old....no story....

If he's lucky it will die out quietly, if it's still in the news next week he will be gone.

aklim · #6 07-09-2010, 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Txjake

The quote the newsies are so wrung up about is a couple of years old....no story....

oh have you ever heard some of the quotes fom the Generals of WWII?

to whit:

Admitral William "Bull" Halsey: “"Kill Japs, Kill Japs, Kill more Japs!'”

General Curtis Lemay: "If you kill enough of them, they stop fighting"

General George Patton: "Battle is the most magnificent competition in which a human being can indulge. It brings out all that is best; it removes all that is base. All men are afraid in battle. The coward is the one who lets his fear overcome his sense of duty. Duty is the essence of manhood."

Get the picture?

Back then, Halsey could even say that the only place they would be speaking Japanese is in hell at the end of the war or so he has been quoted. Today, if you said the same thing, you'd be in trouble. Times change. Way back when, me sleeping with a 12 yo is fine. Today, not so good. Times change.

#7 07-09-2010, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Txjake

Admitral William "Bull" Halsey: “"Kill Japs, Kill Japs, Kill more Japs!'”

General Curtis Lemay: "If you kill enough of them, they stop fighting"

General George Patton: "Battle is the most magnificent competition in which a human being can indulge. It brings out all that is best; it removes all that is base. All men are afraid in battle. The coward is the one who lets his fear overcome his sense of duty. Duty is the essence of manhood."

Get the picture?

1. This isn't WW2, this is a political mission being carried out by the military (which is a whole different conversation).

2. It's not 1945, even 1960s TV shows used language that no-one would use in public today.

3. I doubt any of those officers would be successful in the current military, Patton probably wouldn't make it through the psychological screening.

Txjake · #8 07-09-2010, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Craig

3. I doubt any of those officers would be successful in the current military, Patton probably wouldn't make it through the psychological screening.

And what a loss that would be..

Pooka · #9 07-09-2010, 10:44 PM

I can't fine the quote right now, but LeMay, when he was in charge of the 8th Air Force in England, saw a sign that said something like 'The Mission of the 8th Air Force is to.....' and then there was a long sentence about destroying this and that and bringing freedom to Europe and some other stuff.

He has the sign changed to 'The Mission of the 8th Air Force is to Kill Germans'.

He wanted everyone to know that if they did that the war would be over and all the other stuff would eventually fall into place.

aklim · #10 07-09-2010, 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Craig

I have no opinion of his qualifications, I'm just saying that these guys can't get away with stuff like this and they should know better. It's unfortunate when the military loses qualified officers because they don't know when to shut up.

Here is a good question. Would the Ex CENTCOM Cmdr tolerate someone doing to him what he did to that insignificant man Obama? I mean, he is only the Prez and his boss so what is so bad about insulting him? Isn't it acceptable behavior to piss on your boss in public?

aklim · #11 07-09-2010, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Craig

Look, another general officer who is about to decide that he "needs to spend more time with his family" and/or that it's time to "persue other interests.". How do these guys make it to this level without knowing how to keep stupid comments to themselves?

Not until he insults the Prez.

#12 07-09-2010, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aklim

Not until he insults the Prez.

It depends if it turns into a "story" or not.

aklim · #13 07-09-2010, 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Craig

It depends if it turns into a "story" or not.

Oh, lets see. Wreck a guys career and make a story for myself or keep quiet and let him keep his job. Tough choices. I think I'll go for door #1.

#14 07-09-2010, 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aklim

Oh, lets see. Wreck a guys career and make a story for myself or keep quiet and let him keep his job. Tough choices. I think I'll go for door #1.

I'm not saying it's right, but if he becomes a distraction he will be thrown under the bus. It depends if the other news outlets pick up on the story and try to tie it together with the previous story.

aklim · #15 07-09-2010, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Craig

I'm not saying it's right, but if he becomes a distraction he will be thrown under the bus. It depends if the other news outlets pick up on the story and try to tie it together with the previous story.

Right has nothing to do with it. People are thrown under the bus on a daily basis when it gets inconvenient. I know the company I worked for would fire me in a heartbeat when things go south and therefore, when things look better, I move.