Marines Plan to Use Velvet Glove More Than Iron Fist in Iraq

[RamboLiberal]

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/12/12/international/middleeast/12MARI.html?hp

No force has a tougher reputation than the United States Marines. But the marines who are headed to Iraq this spring say they intend to avoid the get-tough tactics that have been used in recent weeks by Army units.

Marine commanders say they do not plan to surround villages with barbed wire, demolish buildings used by insurgents or detain relatives of suspected guerrillas. The Marines do not plan to fire artillery at suspected guerrilla mortar positions, an Army tactic that risks harming civilians. Nor do the Marines want to risk civilian casualties by calling in bombing strikes on the insurgents, as has happened most recently in Afghanistan.

"I do not envision using that tactic," said Lt. Gen. James T. Conway, the commanding general of the First Marine Expeditionary Force, who led the Marine force that fought its way to Baghdad and will command the more than 20,000 marines who will return to Iraq in March. "It would have to be a rare incident that transcends anything that we have seen in the country to make that happen."

[izzie]

1. Yar!

n/t

[TacticalPeek]

2. Thank God for the Marines.

When they were there before, they started building voting booths (until Bremer stopped them).

Oorah!

[DulceDecorum]

3. That's awesome!

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article5365.htm

[54anickel]

6. Are you saying they will not win the hearts and minds either?

This is the 2nd time today I've seen this video posted. First time I did not even pay attention to the narrative. Now I catch these were Marines.
Just don't know what to think anymore.

[Ernesto]

4. For all you non-Marine types out there

The major objective of the Corps is to out do the Army at all times. All Marines are taught from day one in boot camp that the big ol' fumbling Army is in all ways inferior to the Corps..... So it is no surprise to me to hear a USMC general make such a statement......... That being said, I do wish them good luck and hope they do "show up" the Army if that's what it takes to slow down the blood shed.

[Kitsune]

5. Why are we sending the Marines back in?

I was under the impression that they really aren't meant for occupation duty.

[Ernesto]

7. They're going back because there is no DRAFT

........YET!

[denverbill]

8. Worst possible decision.

I have always been under the impression that the Marines, more than any other branch, are trained to fight, not to be humanitarian-builder-policeman types.

[Ernesto]

10. Actually

The "crotch" had an extensive "hearts and minds" program in Nam from about 1967 and on. TET kinda slowed it down though.

[sendero]

9. Velvet glove?

Or Latex Glove? :)

Really, it sounds like the Marine brass has fewer heads up their ...backsides.