Fun Time

The Observer UK reports on a memo--believed to be authentic--from Blackwater Security:

One of the biggest private security firms in Iraq has created outrage after a memo to staff claimed it is 'fun' to shoot people.

Emails seen by The Observer reveal that employees of Blackwater Security were recently sent a message stating that 'actually it is "fun" to shoot some people.'

Dated 7 March and bearing the name of Blackwater's president, Gary Jackson, the electronic newsletter adds that terrorists 'need to get creamed, and it's fun, meaning satisfying, to do the shooting of such folk.'

Hmmm...that reminds me of something:

Lt. Gen. James N. Mattis, an infantry officer who has commanded Marines in both Afghanistan and Iraq, made the comments Tuesday while speaking to a forum in San Diego about strategies for the war on terror. Mattis is the commanding general of the Marine Corps Combat Development Command in Quantico, Va.

An NBC 7/39 news crew attended the forum Tuesday and recorded Mattis' comments. Among other things, he said, "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. I'll be right upfront with you, I like brawling."

I guess Mattis has alternative employment to look forward to if/when he decides to muster out. Well, either Blackwater or the carny maybe. But it sends a hell of a message to the rest of the world when we talk about what a hoot it is killing people--particularly when it's become clear that the forces overseas really don't know who the enemy is.

Macho posturing might make for sound bites that bring out the whoop-it-up from the wingnuts. But like another famous--excuse me, infamous case of mouth-in-motion/brain-disengaged, the consequences could well be damned unpleasant, at least for the folks out on patrol. Think about it: Bush, Mattis, and now Blackwater are all BEGGING for US soldiers to be attacked. As the saying goes, them's fightin' words. And the Iraqis are, well, fighting...and it's not a carnival.