Marines Have One of Roughest Jobs in Iraq

[leftchick]

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050804/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/us_iraq_marines

WASHINGTON - The Marines have one of the roughest assignments in Iraq: pacifying the perpetually restive Anbar province, home to Fallujah, Ramadi and Haditha, all sites of heavy American casualties since the insurgency went into high gear last year.


Underscoring the heavy load, the Marines have taken casualties disproportionate to their numbers in Iraq.

Marines number more than 23,000 out of 138,000 members of the U.S. armed forces in Iraq, or 17 percent. Yet they have lost at least 530 of the more than 1,820 U.S. personnel who have died there, or 29 percent, Marine officials said.

<snip>

Some military experts pointed to Wednesday's attack to note the Marines are performing duties somewhat different from those for which they are organized and equipped. The amphibious vehicle, for example, was designed to get troops ashore and is less armored than some other infantry carriers.

"It's basically designed to get across the beach and get a few dozen miles inland," said John Pike, a military expert with Globalsecurity.org. "The point being, once (Marines) had managed to secure the beachhead and get a few miles inland, the Army would come ashore and take over from there."

[Spinzonner]

1. Remember Rummy's dictum ...

You waste the cannon fodder you have, not the cannon fodder you wish you had.

The neocons simply don't care what it costs in other peoples' lives and resources so long as their grand visions are pursued.

[madmom]

2. Marines are not...

garrison troops,aka the "lean green killing machine" are being used improperly.These brave lads are shock troops they assault they don't bog down and hold ground.

[Binka]

3. Ben's Beautiful Hands

Here is Ben age 24 shaking the hand of his friend and classmate at their graduation MCRD 02/06/2005. On September 1 2005 my first born child will be entering the bowels of hell a once beautiful land formerly known as the Garden of Eden.



I live abroad but I am coming to the States to say goodbye to my baby. I love his beautiful hands. Oh Ben, my sweet Benjamin Elliot, stay safe.

[BoneDaddy]

4. Ben

binka,

I couldn't stop thinking about my two year old's hands after I read your post. I hope he comes home safe and you can hold those hands again.

[leftchick]

5. he is indeed beautiful

may he stay safe.

[Binka]

7. Thank You Today Has Been A Crying Day For Me

The mess is getting deadlier and messier and I'm so worried and afraid. The tears will not stop. My four year old seen here washing Barbie can't understand why Mommy is so sad.

[rman]

6. I can imagine pacifying by means of weapons is not easy.

Unless the objective is just kill those who are not passive.

Otherwise i think marines, and soldiers en general are not trained nor equipped for pacification.

[htuttle]

8. Iraqi parents have a far more difficult job

I'll spare you the obligatory gory photo for the time being.

[wildwww2]

9. Giving your life for the vanity of an idiot war criminal is a rough job.

But a blow job is a much more evil act to the neo-cons who send our troops to their needless deaths.
Peace
Wildman
Al Gore is My President