Up to 2,000 Marines to Go to Afghanistan From Gulf

[hang a left]

Up to 2,000 Marines to Go to Afghanistan From Gulf
By ERIC SCHMITT

Published: March 26, 2004


ASHINGTON, March 25 — As many as 2,000 marines now aboard ships in the Persian Gulf will be sent to Afghanistan in the coming weeks to reinforce the American-led operation there to combat fighters of Al Qaeda and the Taliban, Pentagon officials said Thursday.

American commanders have not yet decided how many marines from the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit from Camp Lejeuene, N.C., will ultimately be deployed to Afghanistan. A senior Pentagon official said "it will be most of them," while a defense official said that "some of the marines" would be sent but that conditions in the field would dictate the number.


The United States now has about 13,000 troops in Afghanistan, including 2,000 marines. The additional marines — about 2,000 to 2,200 are now aboard three ships in the gulf — would add significant reinforcements at a pivotal moment in the running battle along the Afghan-Pakistani border.

Gen. John P. Abizaid, the head of the military's Central Command, and his top lieutenants in Afghanistan had been planning a major spring offensive against Qaeda and Taliban fighters along that frontier, and he has intended for months to use the additional marines, the senior Pentagon official said. The marines left North Carolina on Feb. 19 for a six-month deployment.



http://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/26/international/asia/26MILI.html?ex=1080882000&en=4f718abeb1203dcf&ei=5043&partner=EXCITE

[bluestateguy]

1. Hmmm, drafty in here

[RummyTheDummy]

2. They're ratcheting up the hunt for UBL

A sure sign of nervousness. They know they're in trouble.

[Dover]

5. ...or better known as the Hunt For Red October Surprise......

eom

[stepnw1f]

3. Geee

Time to go after Osama. After 2 years!

[maggrwaggr]

4. wow, that's like a bad "good news, bad news" joke

"Men! The good news is you get to leave Iraq!

The bad news is .... you're going to Afghanistan!"

Better not turn your back, General .....

[tlcandie]

6. The old shuffle and jive routine....

nt

[pfitz59]

7. Whole lotta ocean in Afghanistan!

Way to mis-use rapid-response MARITIME force!