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US Marines Want Out of Iraq

Commander calls for lead Afghan role instead

By Peter Fearon, Newser Staff

Posted Oct 11, 2007 3:15 AM CDT

(Newser) – The US Marine Corps is lobbying to be withdrawn from Iraq and instead be given the lead role in Afghanistan, reports the New York Times. The move would leave the Army with primary responsibility for the increasingly unpopular war in Iraq. Supporters believe it would allow the branches to operate more efficiently in operations that are straining resources.

Air Force commanders are likely to oppose the move, which would reduce their role in Afghanistan because Marines operate their own aircraft. The Marine Corps commandant pitched the concept at a Pentagon conference last week. "This is not about trading one ground war for another,” said a Pentagon official. “It is about the nature of the fight, and whether the Afghan mission lends itself to Marine deployment.”

U.S. marines and Iraqi troops move between ruined buildings in Ramadi. (Associated Press)

U.S. marines and Iraqi soldiers on patrol the Shiite district of Sadr City in Baghdad. (Associated Press)

Iraqi youths ride bicycles past U.S. marines on patrol in Baghdad. (Associated Press)

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US Marines Want Out of Iraq

Commander calls for lead Afghan role instead

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Iraq • Afghanistan • Pentagon • Robert Gates • Joint Chiefs of Staff • David Petraeus • deployment • Adm. Mike Mullen • US Army • Gen. James T. Conway • Marine • Iraq war

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Joint Chiefs Head Calls for Wider PTSD Screening

Post Traumatic Stress a 'bigger problem than we realize,' says chief

Combat Tours to Be Cut

Tours of duty to be cut back to 12 months; Congress to hear troop cut proposals

Gates Eyes $3B Army Expansion

Gates ready to approve major recruitment campaign to boost ranks

Petraeus Gets New Title, Plans Pakistan Visit

Chief of US Central Command headed to region he oversees

Army to Shorten Combat Tours

Three years between deployments

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US Marines Want Out of Iraq

Commander calls for lead Afghan role instead

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

Iraq • Afghanistan • Pentagon • Robert Gates • Joint Chiefs of Staff • David Petraeus • deployment • Adm. Mike Mullen • US Army • Gen. James T. Conway • Marine • Iraq war

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

Joint Chiefs Head Calls for Wider PTSD Screening

Post Traumatic Stress a 'bigger problem than we realize,' says chief

Combat Tours to Be Cut

Tours of duty to be cut back to 12 months; Congress to hear troop cut proposals

Gates Eyes $3B Army Expansion

Gates ready to approve major recruitment campaign to boost ranks

Petraeus Gets New Title, Plans Pakistan Visit

Chief of US Central Command headed to region he oversees

Army to Shorten Combat Tours

Three years between deployments

About Us

Site

Newser By Users

Community

Site Maps

Tools

More News

What is Newser?