Posted on 11/16/2006 1:11:16 PM PST by jmc1969
About 2,200 Marines are headed from their ships in the Persian Gulf to an undisclosed location in Iraq's western Anbar province to help shore up U.S. combat power in an area riddled with insurgent violence.
The move, intended as a short-term measure, is evidence of the severity of the conflict in Anbar. The insurgency is entrenched and well-organized in a province where U.S. soldiers and Marines are being killed almost daily.
Maj. Matt McLaughlin, a spokesman for U.S. Central Command, said Thursday that members of the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit were "in the process of transitioning and moving" from their ships to a transit point for deployment to Anbar. He said he could not discuss specifics of their mission or exact destination.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
Harith al-Dari, head of the mainly Sunni Muslim Clerics Association, leaves the Syrian foreign ministry in Damascus November 30, 2005. Iraq's Shi'ite-led government ordered the arrest of Dari on Thursday on suspicion of 'supporting terrorism', a move that could raise sectarian tensions further amid mounting violence. REUTERS/Khaled al-Hariri
Former Iraqi Prime Minister Ayad Allawi speaks during an interview with The Associated Press in a London hotel, Thursday Nov. 16, 2006. Allawi said Thursday that he fears his country, wracked by sectarian bloodshed and terrorism, is nearing a precipice. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
Iraq's Sunnis and Shiites are farther apart than ever
As Shiites have risen to power and filled the ranks of the security forces, Sunnis, who once condemned the U.S. forces, now often see them as a primary safeguard against Shiite violence. They do not trust the government, a concern that was underscored by the kidnappings Tuesday.
The magnitude of the violence since Maliki took office in the spring has swept away what trust they had. Five members of Abdul Razzaq's extended family have died in violence since 2003.
He would like to see a military coup, headed by a strongman, possibly Ayad Allawi, the former prime minister, a secular Shiite who once was tied to the Baathists, the ruling party under Saddam Hussein. "He worked with Saddam," Abdul Razzaq said. "He knows his way."
Just send the B-52's and start carpet bombing the Anbar province.
Not going to happen......the entire arab world west and south of anbar province is nearly 100% sunni.......draw your own conclusion from it, while the iraqi shia and Iran get stronger and stronger.
Iraq (as per its present borders) should never have been, and it is likely to not be in a short time. We have deferred to sunnis for far too long.
Abizaid orders more Marines into al-Anbar Province
As many as 2,200 from 15th MEU going into to deal with ‘security concerns’
By Lisa Burgess, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Friday, November 17, 2006
ARLINGTON, Va. — Gen. John Abizaid has ordered as many as 2,200 Marines into the Iraqi province of Al-Anbar, where fierce fighting has claimed at least 21 U.S. servicemembers this month.
The 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable), based at Camp Pendleton, Calif., will be sent in, according to Marine Capt. Danny Chung, a spokesman for the U.S. Central Command in Tampa, Fla.
Chung did not know when those orders were given, he said, or how long the MEU will be asked to remain in Anbar.
The 15th MEU (SOC), part of Expeditionary Strike Group 5 aboard the USS Boxer, USS Dubuque and the USS Comstock, is currently deployed in the Western Pacific Region, according to the unit’s Web site.
Marines and sailors attached to the unit recently participated in Exercise Shatrujeet 06 with the Indian army for almost two weeks.
A MEU typically has about 2,200 Marines split into four elements: a battalion landing group; an air wing with Harrier jump jets, Cobra helicopters, and other aircraft; a Marine Logistics Group; and a command element.
But Chung told Stripes on Thursday that he could not discuss the exact number of Marines going into Iraq “for operational security reasons.”
Nor could he say where the unit will be stationed, or when it will arrive.
“They’ll be going into Al-Anbar Province,” Chung said. “Once they’re in the region, we’ll do a press release with more information, but in the meantime, I can’t forecast their location or confirm numbers.”
There are now 141,000 U.S. troops on the ground, not including the MEU, a Defense official said.
“Once [the Marines] get dry feet, those numbers will increase,” he said.
During his appearance before the Senate on Wednesday, Abizaid, commander of U.S. forces in the Middle East, stated that the province “is not under control” but that Marines have been making progress there.
He also dismissed suggestions by Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., that commanders need to focus as much attention on that region as they are in Baghdad.
“I believe that you can’t have a main effort everywhere … and right now it’s Baghdad,” he said.
Also Wednesday, Abizaid repeatedly said that the solution requires more Iraqi troops, not more U.S. troops.
“I believe more American forces prevent Iraqi forces from doing more,” he said in Wednesday’s testimony.
On Thursday, a senior Defense official said Abizaid’s comments on troop levels stand, but the extra Marines are needed to deal with “an immediate security concern.”
Stripes reporters Leo Shane III and Jeff Schogol contributed to this report from Washington.
http://www.estripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=41568
Semper Fidelis and Godspeed, my brothers.
ummm....OORAH ;-)
Bring back Linebacker II with the BUFs. Damn the political correctness.
TANKS for the maps,,,Anbar will be a tuff fight,,,
On Thursday, a senior Defense official said Abizaid’s comments on troop levels stand, but the extra Marines are needed to deal with “an immediate security concern.”
Amen.
Tell the boys at Diego Garcia ...
"Arc Light strike, tonight!!!"
May the good Lord watch over them as they complete a successful mission. I sense a lot of pretty well trained Iraqi commando troops shall be working with them to root out a lot of goons in al Anbar towns and villages that most probably where not as well patrolled by Iraq police/army in the past half year (after those many major raids took place).
Roger that.
Bush may get some bad press from CNN and the NYT, but he is going to get bad press regardless.Bravo!
Yeah, it will. I found the maps handy, and Googled quite a few over the last few weeks.
The ' Perry-Castañeda Map Collection - UT Library Online' for the Middle East Countries are pretty good. They do a good job on Topography, Geology, Oil and Gas Resources, etc. Stay well............FRegards
Exactly right, the weapon most feared by the North Vietnamese was the B-52.I believe it is time in those areas that refuse to cooperate to let them have the choice
Looks like my nephew picked a fine to to visit Anbar.
Yes, did you ever hear the joke where the president walks on water to recover the pope's hat, and the next day every newspaper ran the headline "Bush Can't Swim"?
But seriously, I believe this is the province where Fallujah is located. If we had been willing to use a few MOABs two years ago, our boys wouldn't have to go in there now.
Perhaps. As you know, my view is, as soon as the 9/11 mass-murderers were identified, the entire Moslem world should have evaporated in mushroom clouds; the US should then have occupied the Middle East oil fields, planted the flag, and told Europe and China that the price of oil would be going up.
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