Home / Quotes / Quote by James Mattis

Quote by James Mattis

“The United States has been essentially engaged in an ongoing war that most people date from 2001. That war has taken us to Afghanistan, to Iraq, in a lesser way to other countries - Libya, Somalia, Yemen.”

Quote by James Mattis

Author

James Mattis is a retired United States Marine Corps general who served as the 26th United States Secretary of Defense. He has extensive experience in military and diplomatic fields, having participated in several military operations and playing a significant role in international affairs. more

You May Also Like

“I was struck by the fact that none of the senators, basically, asked General [James] Mattis, "Well, General, how is it that we haven't won?" We haven't won anywhere, 'winning' in the sense of conclusively achieving our political objectives, however you might want to define those objectives.”

Want Wells Facts Might Political Winning Achieve Havens Objectives Senators General James Mattis

Author:James Mattis

“What would you do differently as defense secretary to compensate for this record in which the greatest military in the world, as we are constantly told, doesn't get the job done?”

World Done Jobs Records Military Defense Secretary Get The Job Done Greatest Military

Author:James Mattis

“I don't see lethality as the problem. I mean, the lethality of US forces is quite remarkable.”

Mean Problem Force Remarkable

Author:James Mattis

“We can kill lots of people. We do kill lots of people. We can destroy virtually anything we choose to destroy.”

Author:James Mattis

“The destruction that we have wreaked in the various theaters in which we've been engaged is really quite astonishing. But again, lethality, destruction, killing doesn't seem to achieve our objectives. So, my own sense is that a lack of lethality does not define the core problem.”

Doe Problem Seems My Own Achieve Destruction Theater Killing Various Core Objectives Engaged Astonishing

Author:James Mattis

“I think the core problem is much closer to recognizing where force is of value, where it is useful, and to distinguish that from situations in which war is not useful or is indeed counterproductive.”

Thinking War Problem Values Force Situation Core Recognizing Counterproductive

Author:James Mattis

“I think, broadly speaking, the US military's role - US military activism in various parts of the Islamic world over the past several decades has been counterproductive.”

Thinking World Has Beens Past Roles Military Various Decades Activism Islamic Over The Past Counterproductive Us Military

Author:James Mattis

“I find it disturbing that no member of the Senate Armed Services Committee is willing to acknowledge that record of failure and to ask our next secretary of defense what he proposes to do to amend that sorry record.”

Next Asks Records Willing Members Sorry Defense Acknowledge Senate Secretary Committees Disturbing Propose Armed Services

Author:James Mattis

“General [James] Mattis's primary experience - indeed, his only experience - is as a member of the United States Marine Corps, where he served for 41 years. That's his experience.”

Years States United United States Members Primaries Marine Marine Corps United States Marine United States Marine Corps General James Mattis

Author:James Mattis

“Since 9/11 we've been engaged in wars around the world, and General [James] Mattis has been a leading battlefield commander in many of those theaters, including in the April 2004 siege of Fallujah, where the US Marines killed so many people that the municipal soccer stadium in the city had to be turned into a graveyard for the dead.”

People World Has Beens War Cities Theater Including Around The World Soccer Engaged Marine April Commanders Battlefields Stadiums Graveyard Siege General James Mattis Us Marine

Author:James Mattis