[mark502inf]

if you include the Marines

There are only about 8,600 marines left in Iraq; most of the MEF got out of there pretty rapidly--as you probably know, the marines are not organized or intended for long duration operations.

The ones left are mostly down south away from the Sunni triangle & most of the action, so you don't hear much about them.

[dwilli]

The one thing we can't have is a MEU or MEF doing the type of policing/patrolling the Army is having to do. Throwing rocks at this type of combat forces would be a bloodbath.

Marines are not taught to be compassionate with people hell-bent on hurting/killing them or their comrades.