Marines Raise Possibility of Pulling From Iraq

Unconfirmed reports indicated that the Marine Corps would rather take the lead role in the fight in Afghanistan.

Soldiers in Afghanistan could be replaced by the Marines under the new proposal. Photo by: Tim King

(BAGHDAD, Iraq) - News sources are reporting that the U.S. Marine Corps's commandant wants to pack his troops out of Iraq, and into the lead role to Afghanistan to battle anti-Coalition forces, while leaving the war in Iraq to the U.S. Army.

The idea first came up last week during a session Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates convened by for the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Regional war-fighting commanders also took part in the meeting.

The Army is not necessarily against the proposal, and many believe the realignment could provide each military service a better chance at sustaining troop levels. It is no secret that the two wars have placed immense strain on the resources of both groups.

This could be some of the most revolutionary thinking since increasing numbers began agreeing that some kind of change is mandatory in Iraq. It was pitched behind closed doors, at this point Gates is denying the meeting and that the idea is on the table.

At this point, there are about 25,000 Marines serving among the approximately 160,000 troops in Iraq. For some time, there have been no major Marine Corps units in Afghanistan.

Apparently the Air Force could be the military service to throw a wrench in the plans to redirect the Marines. Their current role, providing combat airpower for Afghanistan, could be upstaged they say, if the overall mission was handed to the Marines.

The Marine Corps operates a number of significant military aircraft including the new V-22 Osprey, the FA-18 Hornet and the AV8-b Harrier. They also maintain several groups of helicopters, though the Marines are rarely provided the new technology that the Air Force and Army regularly receive.

Some experts say the counterterrorism mission in Afghanistan would be greatly aided by the proposed changes with the realignment of the U.S. Marines.