Washington ( CNN ) -- A controversial and leading U.S. general is in line to oversee the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan , according to U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates . U.S. Marine Corps Gen. James Mattis -- if he wins presidential and Senate approval -- will move from being the outgoing commander of U.S. Joint Forces Command to leading the U.S. Central Command , which oversees U.S. military operations in the Middle East and Southwest Asia , including Afghanistan , Pakistan and Iraq . The command also monitors Iran . He would take over the post left open by the departure of Gen. David Petraeus , who was asked to take over command of the war in Afghanistan . Mattis was an effective leader in the Marine Corps , in the eyes of the Pentagon , while commanding troops in Iraq and Afghanistan . Known for his straight talk and hard-core leadership of Marines in the 2004 battle of Falluja , Iraq , Mattis is considered a dark-horse pick by many in the halls of the Pentagon . His blunt talk has gotten him in trouble : In 2005 he said , `` It 's a hell of a lot of fun to shoot them , '' referring to Afghan fighters . Asked if the general would be an effective leader for the Central Command region with the shadow of the comments still lingering , Gates said Thursday , `` Appropriate action was taken at the time . I think that the subsequent five years have demonstrated that the lesson was learned . '' `` Obviously , in the wake of the Rolling Stone interview , we discussed this kind of thing . And I have every confidence that General Mattis will respond to questions and speak publicly about the matters for which he is responsible in an entirely appropriate way , '' Gates said . The Rolling Stone interview led to the resignation of Gen. Stanley McChrystal , then the commander in Afghanistan , because of negative comments about Obama administration officials made by him and his aides . Mattis ' comment in 2005 was made when the then-three-star general was in a panel discussion before an audience . `` Actually , it 's quite fun to fight them , you know . It 's a hell of a hoot , '' he said , prompting laughter from some military members in the audience . `` It 's fun to shoot some people . I 'll be right up there with you . I like brawling , '' he said . `` You go into Afghanistan , you got guys who slap women around for five years because they did n't wear a veil , '' he said . `` You know , guys like that ai n't got no manhood left anyway . So it 's a hell of a lot of fun to shoot them . '' The commandant of the Marine Corps at the time , Gen. Michael Hagee , counseled Mattis about the remarks but defended him publicly , calling him `` one of this country 's bravest and most experienced military leaders . '' `` While I understand that some people may take issue with the comments made by him , I also know he intended to reflect the unfortunate and harsh realities of war , '' he said in a written statement . `` Lt. Gen. Mattis often speaks with a great deal of candor . '' Mattis also was the commanding general overseeing the case of the now-infamous slayings of civilians by Marines in Haditha , Iraq . Some 24 civilians were killed on November 19 , 2005 , in what a human rights group and military prosecutors said was a house-to-house rampage by Marines after a roadside bomb killed one of their comrades . Eight Marines were charged , and all but one were cleared , some of them by Mattis . Mattis also was the overseeing authority in the murder case involving eight Marines found guilty of taking part in a plot to drag an Iraqi man from his home , kill him and then make it look like the man was an insurgent . That incident occurred near the western Iraqi town of Hamdania in April 2006 . Mattis later cut the sentences of at least two of the Marines involved in the plot . Mattis had been preparing to retire after finishing his latest command , Gates said . `` General Mattis is one of our military 's outstanding combat leaders and strategic thinkers , bringing an essential mix of experience , judgment and perspective to this important post , '' Gates said . `` General Mattis has proven to be one of the military 's most innovative and iconoclastic thinkers . His insights into the nature of warfare in the 21st century have influenced my own views about how the armed forces must be shaped and postured for the future . ''
Gen. James was chosen as next High Command leader . He is known for his leadership in the recent battle of Falluja . His blunt ##ness has gotten him in trouble . Defense Minister : Mattis can speak ` ` in an entirely appropriate way ''