Evan Wright quotes from Generation Kill

Look at this shit. How come we can't ever invade a cool country, with like chicks in bikinis, you know? How come countries like that don't ever need Marines? I'll tell you why. It's lack of pussy that fucks countries up. Lack of pussy is the root fucking cause of all global instability. If more hajis were getting quality pussy, there'd be no reason for us to come over here and fuck 'em up like this! Cause a nut-bustin' haji is a happy haji.

[Trying not to laugh] So, this war's not about oil, or WMD's?

Nope!

And it's not about Saddam?

No, Saddam's just part of the problem. If you took the whole gay-ass Republican Guard and comped their asses in Vegas for a weekend- no fuckin' war! Look, if Saddam invested more in the pussy infrastructure of Iraq than he did on his fuckin' gay-ass army, then this country would be no more fucked up than, say, Mexico.

Ray. [Ray pauses and looks at Colbert.] Please shut up. Thank you.

Lance Corporal Harold James Trombley

Sergeant, I thought they were going to send us over the bridge in darkness.

Corporal Josh Ray Person

Not retarded enough.

[To Person] Careful with the Ripped Fuel.

Corporal Josh Ray Person

Fuck, man! I'm on thirty hours no sleep! Beat the record I made in high school when I was on the debate team.

Wright

Wait a minute, you were on the debate team?

What's the channel for the 119s?

Corporal Josh Ray Person

[To Colbert] 6-4 and TAD 7. [To Wright] Yeah, I was really really fucking good, but all the other guys on the team thought I was high all of the time.

Where did we get that so-called translator?

He told me he worked for General Mattis.

Wright

He told me he worked for the CIA.

Back at Mathilda, he said he could hook me up with free satellite TV.

A buddy of mine in one-seven had to fucking clean up a Humvee that got hit like that. He said he found the driver’s fingers in the engine compartment.

How did he know they were the driver’s fingers?

Because they were still gripping the steering wheel, fucknuts.

Most people in America right now probably think of Iraq as a dangerous country. Now, if I was to stand up, I might get killed. But to us, behind this wheel, it’s pretty safe. So, to us, Iraq is a safe country, right here. I feel pretty safe. Do you feel safe?

Pretty safe, I guess.

See? It’s all relative.

Shit man, it’s really pretty country out here.

Except for the mortars.

Yeah, but they’re random. I mean, come on man, It’s not like anybody’s scoping you with an AK or anything, it’s not personal like that. You really gotta let some of this shit go.

Sergeant Colbert, I was thinking, those trees over there behind us, maybe the guys who fired at us were in them.

As much as I appreciate Rolling Stone’s tactical input, I’m confident in the birds.

Birds?

Anything moves in those trees, birds don’t sing.

LCpl. Harold James Trombley

Did you know people shiver when they have an excess of adrenaline? Cuts the blood flow or something. They taught us that in SOI.

Is that what happens to you?

LCpl. Harold James Trombley

No, I get a woody.

Evan Wright

The secret to great porn is that you never want to see the guys, not their faces.

What if he eats her out? How can you not see his face?

Where the fuck have you been? You haven't said two words since Baghdad.

No more Ripped Fuel. [Looks around him] Man. It seems no matter where we go as Marines... it's always some fuckin' shithole.

Well, I'll see y'all. [A sentry offscreen shoots a wild dog with a shotgun; Wright pauses awkwardly.] Uh... thanks.

Stay frosty.

Colonel.

So what'd you see, reporter? [Wright pauses, unsure where to start] No other military in the world can do what we do. The Marines are America's shock troops. There anything you wanna ask me before you unhitch your wagon?

Captain Americ- [Ferrando gives him a look] Captain McGraw, sir.

All right, now- he walked a fine line. Okay? But in the end, he was within the box of acceptable behavior. But in my mind, when you allow that type of behavior to progress, you end up with a My Lai. [Glances at Wright] You think I should've taken a harsher action.

Two attempted bayonetings.

But no prisoners actually wounded. All right; now, I wasn't there to see what happened, and I have conflicting reports from those who were. But we're in a war zone, reporter. And if I expect my subordinates to remain effective in combat, then I have to show them trust. Until it's proven to me- beyond any doubt- that they are undeserving of that trust. Now, the same support I extend to Captain McGraw, is extended to all my officers. Lieutenant Fick, for example. I'm sure you're aware that there's some in this battalion who feel that Lieutenant Fick is unfit for command.

[Laughs] You should consider your sources, sir.

So what happens to my command if I respond to every complaint made against one of my men? [He pauses] It's a terrible feeling, to be the man sending other people into combat. Terrible feeling. But something else I'm struggling with... is the excitement I felt. Getting shot at. That's something I just didn't anticipate about war.