Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif. (50th CD), issued the following news release:
Today, U.S. Representative Duncan Hunter responded to a report from the Center for Investigative Reporting, questioning whether General James Mattis committed war crimes in Fallujah, Iraq in April 2004. Hunter was a Artillery Officer with 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines in Fallujah at the time.
Hunter’s statement follows:
“This was war and Mattis was a warfighting General. For anyone bothered by that fact, get over it.
“America is finally receiving a Secretary of Defense who not only understands war, but who also won on the battlefield. Fallujah was the last free-fire zone for artillery for the entire Iraq war. And Fallujah was the largest urban battle since Vietnam. That’s a wartime job. And Mattis did it with distinction.
“America needed Mattis then and America needs Mattis now, as Secretary of Defense.
“In fact, I can clearly recall as a Artillery Officer in Fallujah in 2004 that the rules of engagement allowed for targeting anyone out during curfew. Did we utterly decimate? Yes. We–as Marines–were a force to be feared. And we won.
“Mattis wasn’t a general during a policing action. He was a warfighter General. That’s a big difference from what we’ve been doing over the last ten years and what Mattis was tasked to do. His job was not to advocate for social change in the military–a top priority of the Obama Administration. His duty was to destroy the enemy, to protect America’s interests and protect American lives.
“Just to question whether Mattis committed war crimes in Iraq is absurd. This was real war. Mattis’ job was to kill America’s enemies and bring home America’s sons and daughters.
“No better friend, no worse enemy than a U.S. Marine.”
(c) 2017 Targeted News Service
Disgraceful.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mukaradeeb_wedding_party_massacre
But then in conservativeland we dont believe in video footage like walter scott, eric garner, or the rest. So what else is new.
Hunter was with 11th Marines. A junior officer that most Marines thought was goofy. He is a fine example of how a pussy turns into a bully when they get a little power. Mentioning his name in the same breath as Mattis is an insult to a real warrior. Duncan Hunter vouching for Mattis is like Daffy Duck supporting Superman. Its nice, but looks goofy. I guess he is still the same.
Hunter’s Bio according to his Congressional website, looks like he served with more than one unit: Soon after our nation was attacked on September 11, 2001, Hunter quit his job and joined the United States Marine Corps. Hunter entered active service as a Lieutenant in 2002 and excelled in the area of field artillery, much like his grandfather, Robert O. Hunter, who was a Marine Corps artillery officer in World War II.
Over the course of his service career, Hunter served three combat tours overseas: two in Iraq and one in Afghanistan. In 2003, Hunter deployed to Iraq with the 1st Marine Division. Hunter completed his second tour in 2004, where he and his fellow Marines were at the center of combat operations in Fallujah, Iraq.
In September 2005, four years after he quit his job and joined the Marine Corps, Hunter was honorably discharged from active military service and started a successful residential development company. Still a Marine Reservist, he was promoted to the rank of Captain in 2006, and to the rank of Major in 2012.
Less than two years before Hunter was elected, he was recalled to active duty and deployed to Afghanistan. Hunter returned home after more than six months on the front lines and, with the support of the San Diego community, became the first Marine combat veteran of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan elected to Congress.