Marines Have One Of Roughest Jobs in Iraq

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

We have Dumbsfeld to blame for this.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Marines have one of the roughest assignments in Iraq: pacifying the perpetually restive Anbar province, home to Fallujah, Ramadi and Haditha, all sites of heavy American casualties since the insurgency went into high gear last year.

Underscoring the heavy load, the Marines have taken casualties disproportionate to their numbers in Iraq.

Marines number more than 23,000 out of 138,000 members of the U.S. armed forces in Iraq, or 17 percent. Yet they have lost at least 530 of the more than 1,820 U.S. personnel who have died there, or 29 percent, Marine officials said.

-snip-

Some military experts pointed to Wednesday's attack to note the Marines are performing duties somewhat different from those for which they are organized and equipped. The amphibious vehicle, for example, was designed to get troops ashore and is less armored than some other infantry carriers.

"It's basically designed to get across the beach and get a few dozen miles inland," said John Pike, a military expert with Globalsecurity.org. "The point being, once (Marines) had managed to secure the beachhead and get a few miles inland, the Army would come ashore and take over from there."

http://www.komotv.com/stories/38364.htm

[uppityperson]

1. You go to war with the army you have. fuck rummy.

Fuck rummy for not giving the troops the protective gear they need. Fuck rummy for putting them there like they are. 18 dead in 24 hours. Fuck rummy. He should have to sign all the letters to the families. He should have to be there with them.

[JPZenger]

2. Marine's Vehicles are Unsuitable

www.phillynews.com/Inquirer

The philadelphia Inquirer had a front page article today about how the Marines are so vulnerable in Iraq because of the vehicles they are using. As noted above, they are using lightly armored amphibious vehicles that are designed for landings on beaches. They were strengthened to protect them from machine gun fire from the sides, but they have very little protection on the bottom. That is how so many Marines were killed by one explosive device this week.

The amphibious vehicles are also out of date and are mechanically wearing out. A large number broke down during the initial invasion of Iraq. Replacement vehicles are at least 4 years away.

They should provide the Marines in Iraq with Bradleys, which are newer and have better armored protection.