Marines to Afghanistan

[Scoobie Newbie]

Maybe he's right.  Nothing like taking ground and giving it back only to take it again.  I'll leave it at that and let people with more experience in counter insurgency to dispute Mr. Gates or add to what he has written.

 

[The Bread Guy]

And add to Mr. Gates' comments they have.....

 

[GAP]

Maybe he's right.  Nothing like taking ground and giving it back only to take it again.  I'll leave it at that and let people with more experience in counter insurgency to dispute Mr. Gates or add to what he has written.

Do you want the hill numbers.....there's lots  ;D

 

[Kirkhill]

"Oh, The Grand Old Duke of York,
He had 10,000 men.
He marched them up to the top of the hill
And he marched them down again."

 

[daftandbarmy]

Interesting allusion to an earlier English COIN campaign against the Scots!

 

[Kirkhill]

Interesting allusion to an earlier English COIN campaign against the Scots!

Which, as I recall, required the taking of many of the same hills over and over again.

This is one of my favourite descriptions of those campaigns.

This led to the usual tit-for-tat cross border raids. The Scots raided Northumberland and so the English retaliated. Robert Bowes, the English Deputy Warden for the East March, led a raid on Teviotdale only to be ambushed by the Earl of Huntly and defeated at the battle of Haddon Rig on the 24th August 1542. In October that same year the Duke of Norfolk led an English army of some 20,000 which burnt Eccles, Kelso and a few villages but ran out of beer after four days and so returned home to Berwick on Tweed.

Priorities.

 

[tomahawk6]

Update: The Marines will be flying directly to Afghanistan. Their vehicles are being shipped by the Military Sealift Command.

http://www.military.com/features/0,15240,161245,00.html

MEU Headed to Afghanistan
Stars and Stripes | Leo Shane III | February 02, 2008
WASHINGTON - The 2,000 - plus Marines headed to Afghanistan from North Carolina will serve as a quick-strike support force for NATO units throughout the country and won't be charged with securing one specific area, the Corps commandant said Friday.


In a meeting with reporters, Gen. James Conway said U.S. and International Security Assistance Force commanders recently finalized mission statements for the Marine units expected to arrive in country this spring.

The 24th MEU, based in Camp Lejeune, will operate primarily in the south and east of the country but could be deployed to other regions as needed, Conway said.

"They have their own mobility, they have their own fire support, so in that context the commander can deploy them in a number of areas," he said.

"If they were tied to ground, that would be a different issue."

Regardless the region, the commandant said he expects the MEU to see combat.

"The commander has said they're going to live hard and fight well," he said.

Another 1,000 Marines from the 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment from California will train with Afghan National Army and police members and will be more stationary than the MEU.

The 3,200-person deployment is designed to help fill shortfalls in NATO security forces and react to increasing attacks by Taliban and al-Qaida forces.

Conway would not reveal specifics of the Marines' chain of command, but he said their role has been discussed at length with ISAF and Canadian officials.

"They are on [Operation Enduring Freedom] rules of engagement," he said.

"They are working in the same area as the Canadians, at least initially. I think there is going to be a great deal of discretion applied to what the threat appears to be come springtime."

While the initial deployment is expected to last seven months, Conway could not say whether Afghanistan could become a long-term mission for the Marines. But he noted that any additional burden on the force there would likely require a drawdown of Marine forces in Iraq.

"We have told the secretary (of Defense) that we're taking one for the team here," he said.

"The point we have made is we can't continue to do it without relief elsewhere.

"That needs to be part of the consideration come October, hopefully before, so that we can do proper training and planning for our young men and women."

 

[vonGarvin]

Conway would not reveal specifics of the Marines' chain of command, but he said their role has been discussed at length with ISAF and Canadian officials.

"They are on [Operation Enduring Freedom] rules of engagement," he said.

"They are working in the same area as the Canadians, at least initially. I think there is going to be a great deal of discretion applied to what the threat appears to be come springtime."

The original press release on 15 Jan says the following:

The bulk of the additional forces will come from the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) based at Camp Lejeune, N.C. Comprised of about 2,200 Marines and sailors, the MEU is scheduled to deploy aboard amphibious shipping. It will join Regional Command South and conduct full-spectrum operations.

In any event, it will be good to see the USMC in Afghanistan, OEF or ISAF.


EDITED to add link to press release

 

[tomahawk6]

The battalion deploying from California doesnt quite have the mission priority as the MEU does. There is a sense of urgency to get the MEU in place ASAP. The Nassau ASG is deploying without a MEU on board - a first I believe.

 

[tomahawk6]

A couple of pic's

Marines with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit load three AH-1W Super Cobra helicopters onto an Air Force C-17 Globemaster III March 16 at Manas Air Base, Kyrgyzstan. The Marines are headed downrange to Afghanistan as part of the troop plus-up authorized by the president in January. The Marines will be a part of the NATO-International Security Assistance Force, conducting operations to extend the authority of the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. (U.S. Air Force/Senior Airman Tabitha Kuykendall)

 

[Panzer Grenadier]

Here come the Marines.

 

[geo]

Now that they are in KAF, the question that comes to mind is.... under who'se command do they fall under?

 

[tomahawk6]

Canadian command.

 

[MarkOttawa]

The command chain seems to be, er, changeable--January 15:

DoD News Briefing with Press Secretary Geoff Morrell from the Pentagon
http://www.defenselink.mil/transcripts/transcript.aspx?transcriptid=4120

The bulk of the additional forces, approximately 2,200, will be provided by the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit. In March the MEU will deploy to southern Afghanistan, where they will be under the command of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force, or as we call them, ISAF. The deployment, which will last about seven months, fills a long-standing ISAF request for a maneuver force in Regional Command South.  There the MEU will conduct full-spectrum combat operations against the Taliban and al Qaeda so as to provide the Afghan people with a safe and secure environment in which to rebuild their lives...

MR. MORRELL: That's a good question and maybe something you can -- we'll get you an answer on. My original understanding was that this was a MAGTF and it would have its own air and ground, but we can certainly get a more firm answer for you. I can tell you the MEU will be, as I mentioned, in RC South, therefore under ISAF command. 

The Canadians are taking over there from the Brits in February of this year, so they will be operating most immediately under Canadian command in RC South. And as I mentioned, it's also a maneuver force so it has the flexibility to move wherever in Regional Command South that the Canadians deem is necessary to go after the enemy [emphasis added]. I mean, this is a fighting force that will greatly enhance the capabilities of the Canadians and our allies who are down there taking it to the enemy...

   

Then there is a typical letter in the Globe and Mail (fully text payer only):


Them's fightin' men
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20080319.COLETTS19-6/TPStory/Opinion/letters

GEORGE DUNBAR

March 19, 2008

Toronto -- That was certainly an impressive photo showing the macho, "give 'em hell" style of U.S. Marines as they marched into Afghanistan (Expectations High As Marines Pour Into Kandahar - March 18).

I suppose it was those cigars, clamped so firmly by the jaws of the warriors, that was really impressive. Were they emulating Clint Eastwood or Tony Soprano?"

More links:

24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (official)
http://www.iimefpublic.usmc.mil/24meu

Marines return to Afghanistan
http://www.iimefpublic.usmc.mil/Public/InfolineMarines.nsf/(ArticlesRead)/5692B5EB769E08D38525740D00255086

The 24th MEU Unofficial Blog
http://the24thmeu.wordpress.com/

Mark
Ottawa

 

[tomahawk6]

The 24 MEU is probably going to be used as a sort of fire brigade,going where they are needed most.The bad guy s are plainly going to try and test NATO in Kandahar and Helmand, the Marines will be able to respond in either direction.Its clear that ISAF's strategy will continue to focus on attacking taliban bases in Paksitan and targeting their leadership.

 

[armyvern]

Whooo Hooo!! They are in KAF.

Lovely. 

Helicopters, the CDS, the Stanley Cup ... wonder what'll show up next. 

 

[tomahawk6]

The politicians cant be far behind, ;D

 

[armyvern]

The politicians cant be far behind, ;D

Actually, the MND was right behind ...  8)

 

[Journeyman]

Helicopters, the CDS, the Stanley Cup ... wonder what'll show up next.  

The Pope?  >

The 24 MEU is probably going to be used as a sort of fire brigade,going where they are needed most.The bad guy s are plainly going to try and test NATO in Kandahar and Helmand, the Marines will be able to respond in either direction.

They've already received their marching orders -- wait for the open source reporting

Its clear that ISAF's strategy will continue to focus on attacking taliban bases in Paksitan and targeting their leadership.

Pardon? Are you suggesting ISAF/NATO has a policy of attacking a sovereign nation?

 

[Bruce Monkhouse]

The Pope?   >

:rofl:
Just about knocked my tea over with that one......ya just have to tease the axe murderer, don't you?