Thaindian News

Washington, July 9 (ANI): US Defense Secretary Robert Gates named Marine Corps Gen. James Mattis as the head U.S. Central Command, the post left by Gen. David Petraeus, who assumed command in Afghanistan over the weekend.

Petraeus was transferred after Gen. Stanley McChrystal was forced to resign following the publication of a magazine article in which he and his aides were critical of civilian officials.

According to the Fox News, in 2005, then a three-star lieutenant general Mattis was rebuked for saying “it’s fun to shoot some people.”

“That was five years ago, I think that the subsequent five years have demonstrated that the lesson was learned. … I have every confidence that General Mattis will respond to questions and speak publicly about the matters for which he is responsible in an entirely appropriate way,” Gates said.

Mattis made the controversial comments at a San Diego forum five years back. An audio recording showed him saying: “Actually, it’s a lot of fun to fight. You know, it’s a hell of a hoot. … It’s fun to shoot some people.”

He directed that sentiment toward “guys” in Afghanistan “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,” he added.

Mattis, a seasoned war veteran, is best known for leading troops into the bloody battle of Fallujah in Iraq in 2004.

As Gates announced Mattis as his choice, he also explained in more detail the media policy for the U.S. military. He said he does not want to “impinge” or “impede” the flow of information to the press.

“This is not my intent, nor will I tolerate it,” he said.

He said he concluded several weeks ago, following a series of incidents spanning two administrations in which senior defense officials got into trouble over comments in the press, that the military needs “greater coordination and discipline.”

The media policy memo says the Defense Department has “grown lax in how we engage with the media.” It demands that the Pentagon’s public affairs unit be notified “prior to any interviews or any other means of media and public engagement with possible national or international implications.”

On Wednesday, the media argued with the Defense officials that almost every story they write has “national or international implications” and questioned just how far the Pentagon plans to take this rule.

Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell said it’s the responsibility of his office to review interview requests for any “potential mine fields” ahead of time.

Pentagon Spokesman Col. Dave Lapan said the memo is just reinforcing old rules and that the Pentagon will be able to handle the increased flow of requests.

“It is making what is ad hoc today more solidified in practice and in policy,” he added. (ANI)