Marine security team heading to Jiddah

[Tab]

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The U.S. military ordered a Marine Corps antiterrorism security team to Jiddah, Saudi Arabia, Tuesday to assist in security at the consulate, defense officials said.

The officials discussed operational matters only on the condition of anonymity. The team is based elsewhere in the Middle East, the official said.

These teams typically have 50 Marines and are experts in providing security and conducting raids in urban areas, said Maj. Matt Morgan, a Marine Corps spokesman at Camp Lejeune, N.C. They are often deployed in the aftermath of a terrorist attack.

Marines in antiterrorism and embassy guard units are based elsewhere, but commanded from the antiterrorism 4th Marine Expeditionary Brigade at Lejeune. The brigade also include a battalion of infantry troops at Lejeune and a chemical and biological hazard team.
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/N/NC_SAUDI_EXPLOSION_SECURITY_NCOL-?SITE=NCASH&SECTION=US&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

[plasticsundance]

1. Didn't we just take troops out of the there a year ago?

And are these Marines going to have this marked off against any deployment to Iraq?

It gets more bizarre everyday.