Tragic and needless, yes. But is that the first thing that Gen. Robert Neller would have said about, say, Pearl Harbor? Or the Battle of Midway? Maybe, but would he have been so circumspect about naming the enemy, and isn’t it likely that his talk would have been more about determination and resolve to fight on to final victory, rather than a platitude-filled paean to community harmony?
How about the words “outrage” and “infamy” and “never again”? Those might have been more refreshing, and reassuring.
Neither the word “tragic” nor the word “needless” appear in FDR’s speech to Congress on December 8, 1941, the day after the Pearl Harbor attack.
The excerpt of Gen. Neller’s address here, as well as this Chattanooga Times Free Press article, betrays no awareness that the Chattanooga jihad massacre was one episode in a long war, a war that is ongoing, and not some random “tragic” incident. And that attitude in itself only ensures that there will be more Chattanoogas, as the steps that could and should be taken to prevent more such incidents will not be taken, because they will not be deemed necessary, or worse, will be branded “Islamophobic.”
“Top Marine Corps general visits Chattanooga,” by Shelly Bradbury, Chattanooga Times Free Press, May 7, 2016 (thanks to Jerk Chicken):
The top general of the U.S. Marine Corps visited Chattanooga on Friday for the city’s first Armed Forces Day parade since five service members were killed in a July 16 terrorist attack last year.
Gen. Robert Neller, commandant of the Marine Corps, said he felt honored to attend the event and hoped his presence served as a “thank you” to the Chattanooga community.
“The events that took place last July 16 were tragic and needless, but I think out of that came a recognition that the relationship between this community and the military is as strong as ever,” he said. “And as tragic as the loss of those Marines and that sailor were, the only thing that could be worse is if we didn’t have communities like Chattanooga that are willing to support their military and provide great young men and women to serve.”
Neller watched the parade from an elevated podium on Market Street. Under a breezy, blue sky, he saluted and waved as local students, veterans, patriotic groups and bands marched past.
People lined Market Street, lifting cell phones and craning to see. Some wore red, white and blue, others donned T-shirts that declared, “Nooga Strong.” Kids sat on the curb, waving American flags and diving for candy thrown from floats….

Immadiayh says
Tragic and needless would be when an officer choked to death at the chow hall while eating a sausage laughing his head off.
Christianblood says
(Marine Corps chief calls Chattanooga jihad attack “tragic and needless”).
Wow!
Jay Boo says
Gen. Robert Neller himself is
“tragic and needless”
Gungadin says
First we have OBOZO sidestepping the words “muslim extremism” and now we have a Marine General soft pedaling the killing of our GI’s right here in the homeland.
As a Veteran I’m PISSED !!
I cant wait until that POS is out of OUR HOUSE in DC!!
Roderick MacUalraig says
OO-RAH.
Raja says
Yeah by the same yardstick Sep 11 was Tragic and needless. When any non Islamic state is under attack it would be tragic and needless. This only proves that there is hardly anyone who acknowledges the truth that Islam is evil to the core. It is totalitarian and brutal on anyone/ any state that is not compliant to Islam. So much for a scum religion.
Danyel Guy says
leave the marines at home and they will stop dying.stop trying to control the world and work on your own country. god bless the marines
Raja says
Has any one wondered how many would have joined Islamic State had it not been a rag tag force/ fly by night outfit? It would have been in troves. Implies that there is a sizable population of Muslims who are stealth terrorists.
mortimer says
An excellent point by Raja. If ISIS had been a modern state with a modern, well-equipped army, the stampede of young Muslims would have produced many thousands from every country…as much as 10% of the Muslim youth of the world would have volunteered…a number of up to 50 million…an army of suicidal, enthusiastic warrior ready to die in wave attacks. Raja has an excellent understanding (no doubt from observation) that Muslim youth around the world are already radicalized and ready to defend Islam. They are more Islamic and more observant than their parents. They are only awaiting a credible, charismatic leader to inspire them. When that leader comes forward, it will be too late.
We have an urgent need for Western governments to design protocols to deprogram Muslim youth right out of Islam. That is the only way to prevent a worldwide jihad. Western elites need to understand that jihadists are a very large number of the Muslim youth population and that Islam is not predominantly a religion, but a POLITICAL MOVEMENT that is very similar to Nazism in its ability to inspire fanatical loyalty. Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states are producing propaganda materials that radicalize these youths.
Western elites are underestimating the MAGNETISM and HYPNOTISM of Islam. Only Western governments have the resources to deprogram Muslims. They must do it or the West will fall.
jihad3tracker says
KNOWS WHAT HIS BOSS (COMMANDER IN CHIEF) WANTS THE NARRATIVE TO BE.
Berengaria says
This General Neller sounds a bit like The Infamous General Kelly of Fort Hood, Texas. GeneralNeller calls the deaths,tragic & needless, rather like an accident. General Kelly,USA,ret., viewed the deaths of soldiers at Fort Hood, as an interruption in his Muslim Outreach program. With leaders like these two, no wonder our military is demoralized.
Michelle says
OBVIOUSLY IT WAS!!! OBAMA though didn’t want recruitment offices to look “intimidating” however so he disallowed all forms of firearms in the facilities. It’s the same thing he’s done even with stripping down police riot gear. But see what “good” that got our own in Tennessee? ?
WorkingClassPost says
I suggest that Tragic and needless better describes Gen Neller, than the events of July 16.
Angemon says
Well, someone’s got to do it – the government sure as hell isn’t…
Gungadin says
Angemon……….I’m keeping my powder dry…..hope you do the same; cause I fear that we’re going to need it. !!
Fessitude says
“Tragic and needless, yes. But is that the first thing that Gen. Robert Neller would have said about, say, Pearl Harbor? ”
A cursory browse through newspaper headlines in the wake of the Pearl Harbor attack shows three papers naming the enemy as “Japs” (as in “JAPS BOMB U.S. BASES” from the Los Angeles Times).
https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/pearl-harbor-on-the-nations-front-pages/2013/12/30/a20eef44-2059-11e1-b180-0df42576a2af_gallery.html
The prevalent feeling today, deformed by PC MC, would be a twinge of regret and shame for such epithets as that (and “Yellow Peril” etc.), leading logically to the resolve (whether conscious or subliminal) to “evolve” past that to a less “bigoted” view. And that, I maintain, is the main reason why the West remains unconscionably laggard in waking up to the actual problem of Islam (as opposed to fantasy-based constructs of “radicalized extremists” that have nothing to do with the normative Islam of all the nice, friendly, non-exploding Muslims we increasingly bump into in our daily Western lives, whether out shopping, or at the dental hygienist’s office, or at school, or at work, etc.).
Reni Jollant says
Islamophobia is a sensible response to Muslim Satanic behavior! Call a spade a spade. Islam is the religion of Satan.
Eric says
So a Marine Corps general is vilified because he didn’t give an angry accusatory speech. You stepped well into the tasteless realm with your hatchet job of a decorated US Marine . He came with the mission to help the community health and praise it for the support it provides to the military. That is my take. I didn’t realize how many of your followers really do follow your lead absent their own critical thinking. Islam is the enemy, NOT the Marine orps.
Politicallyincorrectistruth says
I think your wrong here. Nobody said the generals response should have been angry. What he said was nothing less than pathetic.What happened at Chattanooga deserved a much better wording in his speech.It`s as if he just could not be bothered by putting in the time to get the appropriate word`s.
Angemon says
Eric posted:
“So a Marine Corps general is vilified because he didn’t give an angry accusatory speech. ”
Nice strawman.
Jack Holan says
Yes
Politicallyincorrectistruth says
“the premeditated murder of US military personnel by Muhammad Abdulazeez, a naturalized U.S. citizen….. a homegrown violent islamic extremist.
Jack Holan says
If I had been Mayor of Chanooga TN I would most likely followed someone of this stature a 4-Star Marine Corp General who is Chief of the entire Marine Corp. I would have thanked him by name for the sacrifice of and I’d list each Marine and sailor by name , rank and asiigned duty I’d then do the same for each of the wounded that day and remind everyone that the dead fell in the service to their country in the battle against Islamic Terror the one Marine who had the G-d given commonsense to bring his personal weapon to work as an active Marine to the site of target base, get off a shot that slowed up the terrorist. He deserves a medal not a reprimand in this upside down World of Right and Wrong it has become. Chatanooga has a long military history going back to the Battle of LookOut Mountain. Many young men have have fallen here defending their Country and home. Inthis new War it may happen anywhere anytime in uniform or not with a gun available or. Not depending upon our politicians stealing our Second Amendment Right to Bear Arms but Mano mistake a people in the Name of Islam and Jihad have declared War on us and plan to strike us here everywhere at every opportunity. These Gallant Men finally received their due the Purple Heart and death in battle ( wartime Benefits). Senators, Congressmen shouldn’t need to pressure the Military to give the obvios.
Larry A. Singleton says
This is the rotten piece of s**t’s “legacy”: ISIS Slaughters 200 Syrian Children in a savage mass execution.
http://www.tlvfaces.com/18-warning-isis-slaughters-200-syrian-children-in-a-savage-mass-execution/
You won’t see this on our equally complicit and treasonous media. Dirty Rotten Scum.
PRESIDENT FAILURE’S SMART DIPLOMACY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UjK7MsWrffM
From the petty — such as his buttinsky remarks regarding Britain and the EU, to the tragic — his failure to support the 2009 Iranian revolution — Barack Obama and his “Smart Diplomacy” has been an absolute catastrophe to the United States and her allies, and a huge boon to those countries that wish us harm. In his latest FIREWALL, Bill Whittle lays out the most egregious examples, so be sure to watch as much as you can bear.
Barbarians Inside the Gates: Navy Secretary Ray Mabus and the Cultural Evisceration of the U.S. Navy by Craig Luther.
Our Estranged Generals: Our Generals Are Not on the Same Page as the Rest of Us. In Fact, They’re Not Even Reading From the Same Book by Caroline Glick.—-This is an article about the General Staff of Israel’s Defense Forces. But you could practically superimpose every fact in this article on what is happening in our military.