Lt Gen James Mattis he liked brawling and enjoyed shooting people in Iraq. Photo by Getty Images
US General has described shooting people in Iraq as "fun", drawing the public anger of the US Marine Corps.
Discussing fighting in Iraq, Lt Gen James Mattis said he liked brawling and enjoyed shooting people.
"Actually, it's quite a lot of fun to fight; you know, it's a hell of a hoot. I like brawling; it's fun to shoot some people", he was caught as saying on tape, cited by the BBC.
Talking about Afghanistan, he said men who slapped around women for not wearing a veil had no manhood and it was fun to shoot them.
The commandant of the Marine Corps, Gen Mike Hagee, later issued a statement saying he had counselled Gen Mattis on his remarks.
Gen Mattis is a brave and brilliant military leader and it seems there will be no disciplinary action, the statement said.