CMC: Iraq Withdrawal Well Underway

CMC: Iraq Withdrawal Well Underway

By Dan Lamothe - Staff writer
Posted : Saturday Jan 24, 2009 7:37:58 EST

The Corps is making plans to redeploy from Iraq and has begun removing some equipment from theater, the top Marine general said Friday.

Commandant Gen. James Conway said the Corps already is redeploying equipment as it has been cut from eight battalions in Iraq to five, and is exploring options that would expedite the process of removing Marines from theater when they are given the option.

“We don’t think it has to be Kuwait,” Conway said of the traditional route for withdrawing troops from Iraq. “We have been experimenting with negotiating with Jordanians for use of the port of Aqaba. It’s great that they have opened up al Asad now to commercial traffic.

“We think we can fly troops right out of al Asad without making the transition down to Kuwait or even down to Jordan.”

Conway said he would like to see “not more than 20,000” Marines in Afghanistan by the middle of this year, but he wants nearly every Marine withdrawn from Iraq first. Otherwise, the move would stress combat service support units that have been overworked for years.

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http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2009/01/marine_conwayiraq_012309w/%2e

They're off to learn Indo-European phrases for "Hands in the air!" "On your knees!" "Lay down on the ground and put your hands in front of you where I can see them!" "Is there anyone else in the house?" "Where are the weapons?" "Where are the men?" "Don't LIE TO me!!!" Since there are a few dialects in Afghanistan, they may have to learn several versions that sound somewhat alike. They'll also have to learn the local insults, but that probably won't take too long.

Of course, they're probably not looking for a peace dividend. That dissonant fact is an unfortunate truth of the times, nowadays.

That doesn't make them warmongers, though. It makes them survivalists.

A peace dividend, in this economy, means they'll be UNEMPLOYED with no prospects for a job any time soon.