There is only one 'retirement plan' for terrorists.
Jim MattisRead
Policy makers who have never served in the military continue to use the military to lead social change in this country.
Interpretation
The quote critiques policy makers who lack military experience yet advocate for military involvement in societal issues.
Jim Mattis points out the irony of policy makers who, without personal military experience, are quick to employ the military to implement social change. This raises questions about their understanding and respect for the military's role and the complex nature of social issues that require thoughtful, informed approaches rather than simple reliance on military solutions.
In practice
During a speech on defense policy at a university conference.
There is only one 'retirement plan' for terrorists.
There are hunters, and there are victims. By your discipline, cunning, obedience, and alertness, you will decide if you are a hunter or a victim.
Now from a distance, I look back on what the Corps taught me: to think like men of action, and to act like men of thought!
I believe that many of my young guys lived because I didn't waste their lives because I didn't have the vision in my mind of how to destroy the enemy at least cost to our guys and to the innocents on the battlefields.
For whatever trauma came with service in tough circumstances, we should take what we learned - take our post-traumatic growth - and, like past generations coming home, bring our sharpened strengths to bear, bring our attitude of gratitude to bear.
It's very hard to live with yourself if you don't stick with your moral code.
My fellow Americans, I am pleased to tell you I just signed legislation which outlaws Russia forever. The bombing begins in five minutes.
Fundamentalists are not friends of democracy. And that includes your fundamentalists in the United States.
Too often character assassination has replaced debate in principle here in Washington. Destroy someone's reputation, and you don't have to talk about what he stands for.
The Arab world is facing its own version of an Iron Curtain, imposed not by external actors but through domestic forces vying for power.
Terrorism works better as a tactic for dictatorships, or for would-be dictators, than for revolutionaries .
For more than four decades, the Libyan people have been ruled by a tyrant - Moammar Gaddafi. He has denied his people freedom, exploited their wealth, murdered opponents at home and abroad, and terrorized innocent people around the world - including Americans who were killed by Libyan agents.
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