Mattis Faces CENTCOM Confirmation

Gen. James Mattis, the nominee to replace former Central Command head General David Petraeus, faced an amciable Senate panel Tuesday in the first step of what will likely be a smooth confirmation process.

Mattis, who will be tasked with overseeing the American presence in Afghanistan and Iraq, emphasized that although there will be a change in leadership, U.S. military policy, including the plan to begin the early transfer of additional power to the Afghan government in 2011, will continue uninterrupted.

Touching briefly on the recent Wikileaks scandal, in which thousands of classified documents were posted online, Mattis described the leak as “an appallingly irresponsible act,” but said that the release would have little effect on the war effort.

Little attention was paid to Mattis’s loose-lipped history, including comments made by the four-star General in 2005, in which Mattis, nicknamed ‘Mad Dog’ in some circles, told an audience during a speaking engagement in San Diego, that it was “fun to shoot some people” in Afghanistan.

“You got guys 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,” Mattis said in 2005. “It’s a hell of a lot of fun to shoot them. 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.”

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), the top Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, noted that he admired Mattis’s propensity for “straight talk.”

Mattis’s eventual predecessor General Petraeus is currently serving as the commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan following General Stanley McChrystal’s exit amid a controversial Rolling Stone article. Mattis is currently serving as the commander of U.S. Joint Forces. Before being tapped as Cent-Com head, Mattis was reportedly intending to retire.