The commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps wants to pack up his troops, head to Afghanistan to battle insurgents and leave the Iraq war to the U.S. Army.
The possibility was brought up last week in a session 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.
The idea -- described by officials who had been briefed on the closed-door discussion -- represents the first tangible new thinking to come to light since the White House last month endorsed a plan to begin gradual troop withdrawals from Iraq. It also sends a message that American forces likely will be in Iraq for years to come.
There are currently about 25,000 marines among the 160,000 U.S. troops in Iraq, but no major Marine units in Afghanistan.
Gates and Adm. Mike Mullen, the new chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, have not spoken publicly about the proposal, and aides to both officials said no formal proposal had been presented by the Marines. But the idea has been the focus of intense discussions between senior Marine Corps officers and other officials within the Defense Department.
Some officials sympathetic to the Army said such a realignment of forces would help ease some pressure on the Army, by letting it move troops from Afghanistan to Iraq, and by simplifying planning for future troop rotations.
The Marine proposal could face resistance from the Air Force, whose current role in providing combat aircraft for Afghanistan could be squeezed if the overall mission was handed to the Marines. Unlike the Army, the Marines would bring a significant force of combat aircraft to that conflict.
Whether the Marines head to Afghanistan or not, the most delicate counterterrorism missions in Afghanistan, especially the hunt for Al Qaeda and the Taliban, would remain the focus of a military task force that draws on Army, Navy and Air Force Special Operations units.
Source: Xinhua/agencies
|
Comment
Tell A Friend
Print Format
Save Article