[ErnBatavia]

Nine Marines assigned to Regimental Combat Team 2 died in the operation. Forty more were wounded. The statement said the joint-service team's Marines, soldiers and sailors "killed more than 125 terrorists, wounding many others and detaining 39 terrorists of intelligence value."

That ratio's not near good enough to call this exercise much of a success.

[Marine_Uncle]

One fallen Marine is to many! But I think we must consider how badly we have disrupted the Z-mans goons and other scum bags' operation in that area. This mission has been in the works for a few months, and it is not over by any means, regardless of what the L/MSM may report. And not to sound un-feeling, believe me, we have to remember six of these fallen heros where in one squad group who ran into a bad cross fire by accident. If it wasn't for that turn in the road, only one Marine would have fallen.

[elfman2]

"That ratio's not near good enough to call this exercise much of a success."

If casualty ratios were the measure of success this would be an entirely different war.

[SevenMinusOne]

That ratio's not near good enough to call this exercise much of a success.

You simply don't have a true concept about how this WOT will be fought and won if you actually believe the above. There is much more to a successful operation outside of just "ratio's". (that is old dinosaur military think)

[Spktyr]

While the loss of even one Marine is clearly not good in anyone's book, 10:1 kill ratios when city fighting in someone else's city is pretty damned good. You might want to go look up what most militaries consider to be the hardest kind of warfare and what kinds of casualties are generally expected before you say this isn't much of a success.

[womcg]

125 KIA'a are only what they found with enough parts left to count. And they are still counting.Of the wounded terrs that escaped, at least 20-30% will die and another 10% won't fight no mo'. The Marines are fighting a dug in enemy on the bad guys own turf. Building/crossing a pontoon bridge under mortar fire is really on my "don't ever want to do list", but these kids did it while kicking butt. I imagine the intel value of this op will be far reaching, also. Ops are on going, the Syrians are watching, and this is a good way to see where the rats run so's to light up another nest. I mourn the loss of every one of our troops, but don't sell em' short based on MSM reports.