The United States sent the seagoing ferry — a tourist vessel with flat-screen televisions and a small casino — on Wednesday to transport about 600 people, mostly Americans, after being turned down for permission to land a chartered plane in Tripoli. The passengers would remain on the ferry, which has been secured, and were being provided with food and water, according to the report.This suggests that a marine expeditionary force (MEF) that has historically been in the Mediterranean 24/7 for as long as one can remember is no longer there.
So, the United States is reduced to leasing a "tourist vessel" to evacuate 600 Americans who are now in harm's way.
And the US Marines are not there to provide cover or support, if my assumption is true.
Actions have consequences.
Yes simultaneous wars in Iraq and afghanistan for 10 years have stressed the military. Especially tragic when as Mr Rumsfeld assets that Iraq was justified significantly on bad intelligence.
ReplyDeleteYou're absolutely correct.
ReplyDeleteAnd it appears we're preparing to increase activity in Afghanistan as we wind down in Iraq.
I sure hope someone running for president in 2012 says he/she will get us out of Afghanistan if elected.
Someone pointed out something I completely overlooked.
ReplyDeleteDon't take this out of context; it could lead to an "ends don't justify the means" discussion which I won't get into. It is what it is.
However, it was a US president's action that led to free elections in Iraq, something never seen before in the Middle East. I think that's why some folks in that administration are very comfortable in coming forward to shed more light on the events at that time.
It can be argued that freedom erupting in the Middle East (Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, and Yemen) can be traced back to Iraq.
It is interesting that the current president asserts that the entire region "must speak with one voice."
The "entire region" includes Saudi Arabia.
It will be interesting to see if the US advocates for free elections (democracy) in Saudi Arabia.
Well i didnt want to go further but since you brought it up, Is that another way of saying that although nation building was never a justification to invade Iraq it is a good thing (assuming it actually happens) since the offered justification was a mistake ? Also, just curious why you are advocating a withdrawal short of victory overTaliban and al quieda in afg and Pakistan as part of 2012 election ? Isn't that surrender and won't that embolden our enemies and they will simply wait until we leave and then resume their attacks? What am I missing ?
ReplyDeleteTo answer your question.
ReplyDeleteThe US Marines are :
1) already deployed in Iraq and Afg
2) on their way to Iraq or Afg
3) on their way from iraq or Afg
4) in between deployments and getting reacquainted with their families
So what group are you suggesting that we send to Libya on a moments notice and just how soon do you think they could arrive on tripoli ? And if you are particularly strategic thinker, exactly what should they do when they get there and how would they get out? These are only questions.
I thought this is very telling . What do you think?
ReplyDeletehttp://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/02/25/defense-secretary-gates-warns-against-more-land-wars-in-asia/
Excellent, excellent, excellent article. Thank you for sending it my way. I have to agree completely.
ReplyDeleteI would love to write more but I don't want to open a can of worms -- but there's no question the nation miscalculated by stretching the US Marines so thin they could not be where they needed to be in a crisis. Too many US Marines are involved in long-term ground wars; they are needed for quick in/out skirmishes, and turning things over to Army, Navy, and Army when they've quelled the immediate crisis.
Thank you for sending me this article.