Marines have arrived in Syria to fire artillery in the fight for Raqqa

Stars and Stripes ^ | March 8, 2017 | DAN LAMOTHE AND THOMAS GIBBONS-NEFF

[CMB_polarization]

Marines from an amphibious task force have left their ships in the Middle East and deployed to Syria, establishing an outpost from which they can fire artillery guns in support of the fight to take back the city of Raqqa from the Islamic State, defense officials said.

[CMB_polarization]

Boots on the ground.

[BenLurkin]

I guess that whole “declaration of war” stuff is passé.

[stylin19a]

i thought loose lips sink ships.

[pgkdan]

I guess that whole “declaration of war” stuff is passé.

They don't have the guts to make that large a commitment to anything. Had this Congress been sitting in 1941 we would never have declared war on Japan.

[Wyrd bið ful aræd]

Not good. Let regional players sort it out — no more US blood or treasure for the ME.

[ImJustAnotherOkie]

Getting some practice with the Big Boy Toy’s.

[manc]

great, just great. Now my wife will hear this and worry about one of our boys going there as he is a Marine.
Another weekend of drama .

[Enterprise]

May those fanatical Islamic State terrorists who kidnapped Yazidi and Christian females to be used as sex slaves be hunted down until the last one draws his last breath. And God willing, that last breath will not be from sickness or old age.

[Red Badger]

What’s his MOS?....................

[manc]

AV operator

[Lorianne]

Big bad mistake.
We should be getting out of the Middle East, not getting further entangled there.

How many times will we “take” Raqqa? Like how many times we had to take Mosul and other places.

All for naught.

[Lexington Green]

I’d feel better if one of Trump’s kids was in the military... so he could feel the weight.

[keat]

The force is part of the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, which left San Diego on Navy ships in October

Jeeze, did they rely on wind and tides?

[Red Badger]

Amphibious Vehicle?..................

[SERKIT]

We need to create a pile of glass where Raqqa used be.

[DAC21]

“Getting some practice with the Big Boy Toy’s”

Yep maybe some Excalibur training. They can be 35 - 40 miles away from the target and be pinpoint with the GPS round.

[aumrl]

Some might say it is illegal (declaring war that is)
But the President did say we would wipe isis off the face of the earth.

[DAC21]

“Getting some practice with the Big Boy Toy’s”

Yep maybe some Excalibur training. They can be 35 - 40 miles away from the target and be pinpoint with the GPS round.

[Mariner]

This is the very same way Obama handled authorization for military deployment and action.

I’m appalled.

[manc]

yes the big vehicles which transport Marines to the shore from the big ships and transport on land.
He probably won;t go,.but the fact she will hear this will be more drama.