BREAKING: 2,000 Marines on alert ahead of torture report release

[ChisolmTrailDem]

Just now on msnbc... 2,000 Marines in posts around the world on alert tonight ahead of the Senate Oversight Committee's release of the so-called "Torture report". There is concern the release of the report will cause a violent response from people and groups.

shrub's face on now working against the report's release.

When will Darth Cheeney rear it's ugly head?

[NightWatcher]

1. What will they be alert for?

Riots, attacks from outside?

Are they guarding the house in Langley?

[ChisolmTrailDem]

5. Violent response to the report from people who may take offense to it. It's a breaking

item, I'm just reporting it for DU.

[MADem]

12. They are a rapid deployment force for contingencies at embassies or installations. nt

[napkinz]

2. thanks to this gang ...

[MADem]

3. They're on alert because they fear an attack against an embassy or installation

http://www.cnn.com/2014/12/08/politics/marines-on-alert-ahead-of-release-of-senate-torture-report/index.html?hpt=us_c2

The Marines are all part of contingency response forces positioned in key areas to respond to a crisis. The alert status means the units are put on a shorter readiness time to be available and capable of deploying to a crisis such as an embassy or U.S. base coming under threat. Those exact warning times remain classified, but the Marines can be able of deploying within just a few hours of being notified.

[ChisolmTrailDem]

6. Thanks for helping to bring more information to this breaking news, MADem. nt

[MADem]

19. Any time. nt

[NightWatcher]

7. thanks

That makes sense

[kentuck]

4. I would guess that a lot of folks are working double-time...

...in an attempt to create some sort of crisis that will prevent the Senate from releasing the report?

[ChisolmTrailDem]

9. I'm not convinced it will be released. If I thought I'd have an appetite for a ball cap

I would probably make a bet to eat it if they actually release the report.

I'm not craving dining on a ball cap, tho.

[MADem]

20. I think they're worried about the other side of this story--the "after the report is released" part.

Letting people know that there's shit so worrisome in that report that we need to put the USMC fast reaction teams on high alert isn't a way to depress interest.

If anything, this news whets appetites--it makes people more curious, not less, about what's in that document.

[HereSince1628]

8. there are what? 190+ nations and independent territories???

2000 really suggests very little across all US embassids and consulates

An email, there might be some strong reaction? and 2000 guys are alerted

It's just BS.

[ChisolmTrailDem]

10. I'm sure they're not expecting trouble in all 190+ countries. I imagine they've

determined which ones need additional security and others guarding embassies elsewhere have been ordered to be alert for trouble.

[HereSince1628]

11. Considering the political flak involved, I suspect it's hyperbole based on 1 email

2000 marines is really quite small. It's hardly streteched company strength at 20 locations.

[pinboy3niner]

13. It's actually more than 6,000 Marines

The Marines on alert include approximately:

• 2,000 Marines which make up a contingency response force for Africa. They are stationed routinely in Sigonella, Italy and Morón, Spain.

• 2,000 Marines stationed in the Middle East as a response force for that region. Some are already on duty in Iraq and Kuwait.

• 2,200 Marines as part of an at-sea Marine expeditionary force currently on several ships in the Arabian Sea and Gulf of Aden.

• Three teams of about 50 Marines each in Spain, Bahrain and Japan that are trained to reinforce U.S. embassies under threat.

http://edition.cnn.com/2014/12/08/politics/marines-on-alert-ahead-of-release-of-senate-torture-report/index.html?hpt=hp_t3

[HereSince1628]

14. So our world wide response is... a couple battalions BENGHAZII!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[MADem]

22. +1 nt

[uppityperson]

17. 6,350, and here is where they are located.

http://www.cnn.com/2014/12/08/politics/marines-on-alert-ahead-of-release-of-senate-torture-report/index.html?hpt=us_c2

The Marines on alert include approximately:
• 2,000 Marines which make up a contingency response force for Africa. They are stationed routinely in Sigonella, Italy and Morón, Spain.
• 2,000 Marines stationed in the Middle East as a response force for that region. Some are already on duty in Iraq and Kuwait.
• 2,200 Marines as part of an at-sea Marine expeditionary force currently on several ships in the Arabian Sea and Gulf of Aden.
• Three teams of about 50 Marines each in Spain, Bahrain and Japan that are trained to reinforce U.S. embassies under threat.

[MADem]

15. In most countries, we can rely on the host government to provide protection.

There's no fear of the British or French governments not coming to our aid should we be attacked, for example. In fact, most countries would be quick to respond to any kind of attempt at a breach--all they'd need is a request for support from embassy staff.

In a few countries, though--and if you think on it, you can probably pick them out, we need a fair amount of Marines present in embassies/consulates as well as a fast reaction team that can get to them to help them out in the event that the host government is unwilling/unable to assist.

You'd be surprised what a small group of well-armed and well-trained servicemembers can do if needs must.

Let's hope it doesn't come to that.

I don't agree with your "BS" assessment. Why would they call attention to this? It's completely in reaction to the impending release of the torture report, even if they were trying to quash it, saying "There's shit so bad in that thing that we have to put the USMC on alert" isn't the way to deflect attention from it.

[HereSince1628]

21. 2000 to 6000 is really very little considering the number of sites that COULD be involved

I'd be quite surprised if 500-1000 of them weren't on location in the Green Zone Embassy in Baghdad.

Give a couple more hundred to protect American sites in Kabul and what does that leave for other hot spots?

I'm sticking to the notion that an email was sent out to EVERY marine unit involved with embassy and consulate protection.

This release has been coming form months. The respons is looking like Meh

[MADem]

24. I am certain the USMC assets attached to State Department sites have been keyed up for awhile.

These guys are "spares" -- see pinboy3niner's post elsewhere in the thread. These assets are usually parked at a military installation, they'll provide zoned protection on their installations for SCIFs, for example, but their main event, their raison d'etre, is to respond to contingencies like these.

In most places, we can depend on the host nation for support. There are just a few that would get sketchy on us and perhaps leave us hanging.

[HereSince1628]

25. The "alert" means as little as an email was sent

there's no indication of anything more.

This is hyperbole.

A last attempt to stop the release of a highly redacted summary.


BENGAHZIIIII!

[MADem]

30. That doesn't follow logic. Why call attention to the report at all in this fashion?

To me, it sounds more like the release of the report is becoming more--not less--likely, and the Department of State and DOD are preparing for that possibility.

[Politicalboi]

16. Maybe those 2,000 tortured people

Better call Saul.

[Generic Other]

18. American boys in danger again

to protect the asses of greedy evil men.

[msanthrope]

23. Embassy staff? Our career foreign service are not greedy evil men. nt

[Generic Other]

35. I meant Bush and Cheney

Sorry for being unclear.

[blm]

27. When did career foreign service (Chris Stevens) become "greedy, evil men" to you?

.

[Generic Other]

36. I meant Bush and Cheney

Clean up in Aisle evil.

[elehhhhna]

29. i think its more like "trying to prevent damage after the actions of greedy etc."

[Generic Other]

37. Yes. I most certainly meant to give credit

where credit was due.

[KG]

26. fear factory working overtime

[elehhhhna]

28. Thanks, Dick, Don, George. You muthefukkers.

[riversedge]

31. umm. you are right. I don't think

we have heard from darth v. for a while. But, have to admit, I usually ignore that jerk.

[pinboy3niner]

32. This just in: Dismissing Senate Report, Cheney Defends C.I.A. Interrogations

Posted in GD by kentuck:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10025930295

[riversedge]

33. ok. i will take a peek

thank you

[hrmjustin]

34. I hope our Soldiers and embassies are stay safe.

[nilesobek]

38. Why are they treating Muslims like idiots?

The whole Muslim world has been hip to our torture crap for quite some time. This is hyperbole. The American people are the only ones left who don't know the truth, and the guilty obviously want to keep it that way.