Once a Marine ...

Lee1776 Reminder

Published on October 23, 2004 By stevendedalus In Politics

“Once a Marine always a Marine” Lee1776 reminded me. This not only took me to the old days in the Pacific and Japan, but to the Marines first tour in Iraq when they were able to excel in their assault along the eastern wing of the pincer during which the spirit of the Corps was magnificent by trouncing every resistance encountered. However on their second tour, they were prohibited to carry out their intrinsic strategy — and the only tactic they know — to destroy the enemy. Marines should never be sent anywhere unless the situation requires total destruction. They are known to travel light, hit hard, secure unconditionally and leave. They are not MPs, nor peacekeepers to dwell among restive civilians; they know only war zones — don’t call on them if the leadership doesn’t mean business.

Had a Marine general been in total charge of the war theatre, he would not have sidestepped any pockets of resistance whether barricaded in sacred structures or imbedded with civilians; the order of assault would be to set sights on suspects but try to avoid women and children, and the quicker the terrain is secured the less civilian casualties but the hell with trying to preserve sacred soil used as enclaves for murderers. Civilians actually fare better in this type of assault when a wide front line is established because they are immediately sent to safe havens behind the lines that are truly secured by unconditionally wrapping up the total terrain right down to spider holes. We’re in a war, dammit!

Why was this not done? The administration, in spite of its bullheaded decisiveness, was still wary of political repercussions from the Muslim world, not to mention recalcitrant allies. It sent troops in to walk on eggs because the neo-cons were not as confident as they pretended, and why they quickly moved to set up a provisional government of defectors, thinking this would quell the consequences of engaging in a war that they knew would inevitably leak out as unjustified. “Gee, sorry about that, fellers.” In the future, don’t call up the Marines for such batshit!

http://stevendedalus.joeuser.com

Comments

Texas Wahine

on Oct 23, 2004

You know, I have great respect for the men (and women!) who choose to be Marines. I really think they are some special folks.

The decisons we've made in conducting this war seems baffling sometimes. We come in and clean house and get rid of people, and then we decide later, *oops!* we need those folks so that maybe we can get some legitimacy. We seige a rebel stronghold but stop short of obliterating it and then we walk away. We send Marines in to act as police officers. We break stuff and disrupt things like the electricity and then wonder why the Iraqis aren't smooching our troops and handing them roses.

The administration, in spite of its bullheaded decisiveness, was still wary of political repercussions from the Muslim world, not to mention recalcitrant allies. It sent troops in to walk on eggs because the neo-cons were not as confident as they pretended, and why they quickly moved to set up a provisional government of defectors, thinking this would quell the consequences of engaging in a war that they knew would inevitably leak out as unjustified.

I think that sums it up nicely.

stevendedalus

on Oct 23, 2004

The decisons we've made in conducting this war seems baffling sometimes.

Quaintly put!

Ah, an old marine who always smiles when a friend comes forward!

drmiler

on Oct 24, 2004

Once a Marine ...

By: stevendedalus
Posted: Saturday, October 23, 2004 on http://stevendedalus.joeuser.com/
Message Board: Politics
“Once a Marine always a Marine” Lee1776 reminded me. This not only took me to the old days in the Pacific and Japan, but to the Marines first tour in Iraq when they were able to excel in their assault along the eastern wing of the pincer during which the spirit of the Corps was magnificent by trouncing every resistance encountered. However on their second tour, they were prohibited to carry out their intrinsic strategy — and the only tactic they know — to destroy the enemy. Marines should never be sent anywhere unless the situation requires total destruction. They are known to travel light, hit hard, secure unconditionally and leave. They are not MPs, nor peacekeepers to dwell among restive civilians; they know only war zones — don’t call on them if the leadership doesn’t mean business.

I hate your politics to pieces but.........."Semper Fi!"

stevendedalus

on Oct 24, 2004

hate your politics to pieces but.........."Semper Fi!"

Thanks for the singular admission.

blogic

on Oct 24, 2004

Great piece, stevendedalus.

Lee1776

on Oct 24, 2004

Nice post Steve, I like your thinking.

But with the present video game and instant news generation, I have a feeling that kicking down every door between the Gulf and Baghdad would have been near imposable even with all of our Allies and NATO combined. Let alone what feeding frenzy the press would of had with this tactic.

That's My Two Cents

stevendedalus

on Oct 25, 2004

Let alone what feeding frenzy the press would of had with this tactic.

Worth three cents!

Thanks, blogic.

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