Marines return to more dangerous mission

[JoFerret]

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/News/Nation/513E54BD80EADA9D86256E720039712D?OpenDocument&Headline=Marines+return+to+more+dangerous+mission+

<<CAMP AL QAIM, Iraq - Lt. Jason Johnston couldn't hold back his frustration.

"I don't think the American people understand that this is full-blown guerrilla warfare," he said as he stood inside one of the cramped barracks housing scores of Marines in this remote outpost.

"This is the real war. Last year was a cakewalk."

Johnston is one of the thousands of Marines who have returned to Iraq following only four months back in the United States after fighting their way from the deserts of Kuwait to Baghdad last year. They get most of their U.S. news via the Internet, and they don't always like what they see.

"Who gives a damn about gay marriage or Martha Stewart?" said Johnston, a rifle platoon leader and 13-year veteran from Scottsdale, Ariz. "This is what matters. This is what counts."

Any Marine here who fought during the early stages of the invasion of Iraq will tell you that the Marines' mission now is more complex, more difficult and much more dangerous - even before last week's upsurge in violence in Fallujah, Ramadi and Baghdad.

<snip>

The response of Iraqis has changed, too. Now, many are reluctant to be seen with the Americans, for fear of retribution from insurgents.

<snip>

"It's a lot more dangerous than it was before," said 1st Sgt. Stephen Francois, who was with Kilo Company during the early run to Baghdad. "The enemy is not clear-cut. Now, they might smile at you on the street and be planting a bomb by the road at night."
<snip>

"But some are beginning to question why we're here. It's not that they don't want to be here. It's just that in times like this, it's hard for them to find a purpose."

One officer put it more bluntly.

"I love my country, I love the Marines and I love George Bush, but Iraq is going to collapse the moment we pull out," he said. "It doesn't matter what we do. It's time to go home." >>
<snip>
Ultimately, the conversation drifted to the Vietnam War, a subject on the lips of many Marines these days.

"If you look at it, the Marines who died in Vietnam died for nothing," said one veteran, whose father served two tours in Vietnam>>
<lots more>

[Amerpie]

1. Love?

"I love my country, I love the Marines and I love George Bush, but Iraq is going to collapse the moment we pull out," he said. "It doesn't matter what we do. It's time to go home."

When I hear stuff like this, I know that our days in Iraq are numbered. I just wish that I knew the number.

[JoFerret]

6. An indicator of how bad things are

is that they can't even give away cash. Marines riding around with tens of thousands of tax money and they can't give it away. Marines as best friend and worst enemy - an impossible role.

[wildmanj]

2. tough

got new for one and all---people will fight when you invade their homes---we need to find a way out with dignity---and i would also ask, when are we going to find the weapons of mass destruction--and yes i served in the military so i have first hand experience--not in fighting but being subject to

[happyending]

3. thanks

for posting this news article. It's the best I have seen.

[The_Casual_Observer]

4. "I don't think the American people understand

that this is full-blown guerrilla warfare"

Perhaps that is because the most well financed and massive PR campaign in world history wants to keep it that way.

[teryang]

5. Good reporting

<The elusiveness of the enemy and the nature of the combat have pushed many Marines to compare and contrast this war to one of the darkest periods in recent U.S. foreign policy and military history - the Vietnam War.>

What do they know that a brownshoe doesn't know, Sen. McCain?