Thursday, October 11, 2007

Marines want out of Iraq


Marines Press to Remove their Forces From Iraq
Published: October 11, 2007

WASHINGTON, Oct. 10 — The Marine Corps is pressing to remove its forces from Iraq and to send marines instead to Afghanistan, to take over the leading role in combat there, according to senior military and Pentagon officials.

The idea by the Marine Corps commandant would effectively leave the Iraq war in the hands of the Army while giving the Marines a prominent new role in Afghanistan, under overall NATO command.

The suggestion was raised in a session last week convened by Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates for the Joint Chiefs of Staff and regional war-fighting commanders. While still under review, its supporters, including some in the Army, argue that a realignment could allow the Army and Marines each to operate more efficiently in sustaining troop levels for two wars that have put a strain on their forces.

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So out of Iraq into Afghanistan...out of the frying pan into the fire.

theteach


5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Meh... It is not like we don't have people in Afganistan already. I mean, we have had them there since before we hit Iraq. It is simply that that particular fact has fallen out of the public eye.

The suggestion is to take the Marines, a smaller, more compact force, that are in Iraq and put them in Afganistan...which has its own troubles, but is not as widespread (and needing a lot of personnel) as Iraq is. In return, those in the US Army are moved from Afganistan to Iraq - where the Army's superior numbers will better support the mission there.

I don't see the big deal about it, although I would have this whole thing ended just the same.

maryt/theteach said...

Well, Anime, I like the idea that the Marines won't be in Iraq anymore...but what's happening in Afghanistan? The Army is going to consolidate in Iraq, is that it? Isn't it still really dangerous in Afghanistan?

Anonymous said...

Nothing new that I am aware of is going on in Afghanistan...at least nothing outside of what has been going on since day one.

I imagine that things are pretty crappy no matter where you go really.

The thing about this proposal is that it is suggesting a consolidation of forces:
- Instead of having Army soldiers in Iraq AND Afghanistan, they will only be in Iraq.
- Instead of having Marines in Iraq and Afghanistan, they will only be in Afghanistan.

The overall situation as far as how crappy things are going doesn't change. Only the management of it does. The only real advantage here is the saving of resources and money and force management:

- The Army will only have to be concerned about what is going on in Iraq and can effectivly ignore Afghanistan. Also, Army resources will only be wasted on one country instead of two.

- The Marines will only have to be concerned about what is going on in Afghanistan and can effectivly ignore Iraq. Also, Marine (well...Navy) resources will only be wasted on one countr instead of two.

Like I said, this does not change the overall picture of things...only make it easier to manage for those stuck with the task of doing so.

maryt/theteach said...

Thanks anime, I guess war is the same everywhere. :(

Anonymous said...

No problem...

And yes, war is the same everywhere - it sucks =/