[Jarhead1957]

Recently I asked the question "Where is the Army"? I think this news article answers my question well. They are on rotation.

[Allegra]

Uh-oh...

I think I'll go make some popcorn and watch this thread for a while...

This ought to be good.

[Indy Pendance]

The army rotates the troops every 12 months. The marines, aren't they on a 7 month rotation?

[WV Mountain Mama]

It would be easier to pacify that section of the country if they were all dead. Let's start giving real examples of what will happen if they misbehave against us and our military. Prayer for God's protection over all of our military men and women.

[bmwcyle]

Praise the Lord and the United States Marines.

[MinorityRepublican]

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.

Well, it would make sense that we would put all our best units in the Anbar province which includes the Marines, 101st Airborne, and Army Rangers.

Our coalition partners will not be willing to supervise this area for us.

[Bigturbowski]

This is just like it was in 1990, when we (Marines) sat around playing spades in the sandbox waiting for the Army to get their Sh*t together. You noticed the Somalis didn't rise up until the Marines pulled out, because of they're fear of the Marines. The Marines are, and always will be the neglected stepchildren of our armed forces. Older equipment, if not hand-me-downs of discarded Army and Navy gear. S.O.S. different day. Nevertheless, our Devil Dogs will exact revenge in Haditha very very soon. Semper Fi and nice post.

[rangermedicswife]

Recently I asked the question "Where is the Army"? I think this news article answers my question well. They are on rotation.

I know of a few hundred Army guys who would probably disagree.

[TheForceOfOne]

Marines = Modern day Spartans

IMHO

[elfman2]

""The entire Marine force was designed around the concept of amphibious warfare, which is a good deal different from the kind of conflict they're fighting in Iraq today, hundreds of miles from the sea," said Loren Thompson of the Lexington Institute think tank. "

Loren should put down the book and get his a~s out of the tank. The Marine force Corps was also designed around the concept of flexibility enabling it to morph well beyond its amphibious assault role.

[Calpernia]

Brig Gen. Carter Ham, deputy director for operations at the Joint Chiefs of Staff gestures during a Pentagon news conference, Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2005 to discuss Marines in Iraq. A Marine amphibious assault vehicle on patrol during combat operations near the Syrian border hit a roadside bomb Wednesday, and 14 Marines were killed in one of the deadliest single attacks in Iraq against American forces.

[hiramknight]

Enough is enough. Me thinks it's time to finally operationally verify the effectiveness of our post world war 2 nuclear arsenal. I believe the Anbhar province would make a wonderful test site.

[centurion316]

I think this news article answers my question well. They are on rotation.

You are making the fundamental mistake that you assume this reporter knows what she is talking about. When is that ever true? Let's take a look at the facts:

The USMC, currently II MEF is responsible for Al Anbar Province and other piece of turf in Western Iraq. Current task organization is built around 2 Marine Regimental Combat Teams and 2 Army Brigade Combat Teams. The toughest fight in Iraq is being carried out by BOTH the Army and the Marines fighting under Marine command. Marines and Army troops are cross attached at brigade/regt and lower levels to take advantage of capabilities unique to each unit. Unlike some of the sniping and ignorance evident in this thread - our soldiers and marines are fighting TOGETHER

The 2d Brigade, 2d Infantry Division, who just left Ramadi have been fighting under Marine control for a year. They had a Marine battalion (1/5 MAR) attached. The Chief of Staff of the Army recently approved a request by them to wear the 1st Marine Division patch as their combat patch in lieu of their own 2d Division patch. Some may remember that in World War I, the 2d Division consisted of an Army brigade and a Marine brigade - Deja Vu all over again.

Rotation: Again, the reporter is clueless. Army troops are on 12-month rotations, but some have served longer. Many of the troops rotating now are going back for their 2d full year rotation. Marine Corps rotations are for about 7 months, give or take. At least one USMC unit is on its 3d 6/7 month rotation. The Marine Corps is fighting in Iraq because that is what they do. Oh, by the way, the Army is fighting too - with 15 brigade combat teams currently on the ground.

Marine Corps infantry battalions are experiencing about 2x the numbers of KIA as Army infantry battalions. This statistic holds true for Army battalions that are fighting in the Marine TAOR. The 3/25 Marines are now the most bloodied unit in Iraq. I don't know why this is, but I certainly hope that the leadership is looking into it.

[devane617]

Now you've done-it! Woke up that nutcase SMEDLEYBUTLER.

[Half Vast Conspiracy]

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.

But, how much of the 138,000 are combat troops? Without that number, the AP's assertion is meaningless...no surprise.