ABC: 5,000 Marines Set for Rapid Deployment (to Iraq)

[RamboLiberal]

http://abcnews.go.com/wire/World/ap20040601_1236.html?ad=true

In a rapid-fire deployment, about 5,000 U.S. Marines will arrive this month and travel to Iraq in July, the military said Tuesday.
The deployment occurs in the fierce heat of summer and under an extraordinarily tight schedule, with troops expected to land in the war theater a few weeks after receiving orders.

"We'll be pushing them through the theater and getting them up north" into Iraq, said Army Col. Gary McKown, who oversees U.S. troop movements into Iraq from this desert base south of Kuwait City.

The Marines, who had yet to receive official deployment orders Tuesday, will be among the units traveling into Iraq in July, relieving about 15,000 war-weary soldiers from the Army's 1st Armored Division and 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment.

<snip>

The Marines will be followed by 3,600 soldiers from the U.S. Army's South Korea-based 2nd Infantry Division. Those soldiers will pass through Kuwait after the Marines, McKown said in an interview with The Associated Press

[PaDUer]

1. Wonder if they're taking

their cameras?! Rummy will WARN them to be careful when they're abusing the Iraqis and make sure no one speaks about it!

[aquart]

2. From where?????

[minkyboodle]

3. from the article

Military officials have identified the incoming Marine units as the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit from Camp Pendleton, Calif., and the 24th MEU from Camp Lejeune, N.C.

http://abcnews.go.com/wire/World/ap20040601_1236.html?ad=true

I need to give a marine friend of mine a call and see if he is going to rotate as well.

[UpInArms]

4. here are some news stories

http://www.duluthsuperior.com/mld/duluthsuperior/news/politics/8810585.htm

Company G of 24th Marine Regiment at Madison activated

MADISON, Wis. - The approximately 175 reservists in Company G of the 24th Marine Regiment based in Madison have been called up for active duty in Iraq.

Maj. David W. Durham, the unit's commanding officer, said Tuesday the unit had been training for the last two years in preparation for the move.

"We've been expecting it," he said. "We were expecting to be mobilized last year and we were not. It's long past due and we're ready to go."

Durham said the company received the final deployment order last week, but members were alerted about an impending activation a month ago.

The company is to be deployed to Iraq after a couple of months of additional training at Camp Pendleton, Calif.

...more...

http://www.news.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=13560

USS Belleau Wood ESG Deploys

SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- More than 5,000 Sailors and Marines embarked with the U.S. Belleau Wood (LHA 3) Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) began to deploy May 27 to the Western Pacific and Central Command Area of Responsibility (AOR) in support of the global war on terrorism.

Belleau Wood, USS Denver (LPD 9) and USS Comstock (LSD 45) departed San Diego May 27 to meet U.S. Central Command’s request for forces to support the global war on terrorism and to conduct future operations as directed. The remainder of the strike group, USS Mobile Bay (CG 53), USS Preble (DDG 88), USS Hopper (DDG 70) and the fast attack submarine USS Charlotte (SSN 766), will depart in the coming weeks.

The deployment is considered a prudent step to increase military capabilities and enhance flexibility in region ESG officials. The Belleau Wood ESG's ability to deploy a few weeks earlier than its original deployment date is an example of the flexibility of naval assets and the Fleet Response Plan (FRP).

Staci Smith, from Oroville, Calif., is the brother of Marine Lance Cpl. Sean Smith, embarked with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU). Smith noted that, while she is sad to see her brother deploy, she is proud of the job he will be doing in Iraq.

...more...

http://www.wral.com/news/3368854/detail.html

More U.S. Marines, Including Lejeune Unit, Bound For Iraq

CAMP ARIFJAN, KUWAIT -- Nearly 5,000 Marines, including a unit from Camp Lejeune, will travel to Kuwait this month and head to Iraq in July. The U.S. miltary says the deployment occurs in the fierce heat of summer and under an extraordinarily tight schedule, with troops expected to land in the war theater a few weeks after receiving orders.

Military officials have identified the incoming Marine units as the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit from Camp Lejeune and the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit from Camp Pendleton, Calif.

...more...

http://www.kotv.com/main/home/stories.asp?whichpage=1&id=63166

Broken Arrow US Marines Prepare For Deployment

More Oklahomans get ready for deployment. A couple of US Marine Reserve units from Tulsa and Broken Arrow have been called to active duty.

About 50 Marines from two Anti-Tank Sections will report to Camp Pendleton, California by the end of the week.

...more...

[acmavm]

5. Hey, we're turning things over to the Iraqis, why more troops? You know,

if they don't want us there, why we'll just pull out. Things are going hunky dory folks, the will have their own 'sovereign' government like they did before we bombed the shit out of them. Gee, sounds like everything isn't quite a peachy as bush* wants us to believe.

[daleo]

6. Well, that should solve everything nicely, then

n/t

[Voltaire99]

7. Nothing like Iraqi independence! Sigh. (n/t)

[The_Casual_Observer]

8. They will be there as long as it takes,,,but not a minute more!

This half assed "war plan" actually has anybody convinced that continuing down this path is a good thing??

[dbt]

9. Bullet Shortage Kick!

Five thousand Marines will soon join the War To Make Dick Cheney Rich. Will they have body armor? Will they have enough bullets? And will there be enough rose petals to scatter in the paths of their unreinforced Humvees?

How can the Head Knocker of the United States Marine Corps allow the best that our military can offer to be sent halfway around the world on a mission that has no justification except to make money for a few of bu$h's benefactors?

:freak:
dbt

[saigon68]

10. Head Knocker of the United States Marine Corps=neocon bootlick

NEOCON BOOTLICK, these Cowards will be remembered for a long time like Jodl & Gorring War Criminals all.

[happyslug]

11. Is Saudi Arabia That Hot??????

Something about this sounds like an emergency call (Remember the "Rapid Deployment Maneuver" earlier this week?).

You do not need the Amphibious assault support ships in Iraq, we already have docks the airports to land the Marines at. Why the Ships? If their are going to the Gulf (You can not rule out the possibility of them being diverted Venezuela) the ships are only needed to help land the Marines. You do NOT need that in Iraq, but you do need that capability if you want Marines in Arabia.

Thus my question, is it so Hot in Arabia that Bush and Company believes we have to send in Marines?

[Columbia]

12. Ships carry equipment/vehicles/personnel

And they go ashore at the ports in Kuwait, not Saudi Arabia. From the ports, it's a quick and sandy trip north to Iraq.

[happyslug]

14. That is my point

You do NOT need these Amphibious Ships if the troops are for Iraq. If on the other hand we want those troops in Saudi Arabia than the ships make sense. The Capital of Saudi Arabia is half way down the Arabian Peninsula (and the Oil fields stretch from Kuwait half way down the Peninsula.

Thus my point was NOT that the Troops land in Kuwait, but that these troops may be for the Arabian Peninsula NOT Iraq.

[Columbia]

15. Yes, you DO need these ships for Iraq

Ships the only way to get the massive volume of equipment/vehicles there. Planes are fine for people, but not for hmmwwv's, tanks, quadcon boxes, etc.

[Columbia]

13. This deployment has been scheduled since last year

Not really breaking news.

[struggle4progress]

16. kick

:kick: