Does this mean we already have boots on the ground in Libya?

[cali]

Camp Lejeune Marines To Libya
By Shumuriel Ratliff / Reporter
POSTED: 6:22 pm EDT March 20, 2011

We've seen Camp Lejuene marines in Iraq and Afghanistan and now they are joining the fight against Libya. 2200 marines from the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, or 26th MEU will take part. Their mission is to help end the violence directed at the Libyan people.

"In Libya right now they are doing exactly what we need them to do. They are doing what they are told and right now that's protecting Libyan people against Qadhafi forces," said Captain Timothy Patrick, a marine with the 26th MEU.

A press release from the 26th MEU reads, in part:

"Protecting the innocent and conducting combined operations are what we are designed to do, our forces are doing both as part of the U.S commitment to protect Libyan citizens."

Patrick says that marines from the 26th MEU are coming on the end of their deployment. They will be replaced with marines from the 22nd MEU.

http://www.wcti12.com/news/27257042/detail.html

[lamp_shade]

1. Uh... no.... "are stationed aboard ships in the Mediterranean Sea"

http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/whqr/news.newsmain/article/1/0/1778504/Local.Interest/Camp.Lejeune.Marines.Help.Launch.Airstrikes.on.Libya


"More than 1,000 Camp Lejeune Marines are stationed aboard ships in the Mediterranean Sea, combating the unrest in Libya."

[pampango]

2. Sounds like, at least for now, they rescue downed pilots like the two near Benghazi.

http://www2.wnct.com/news/2011/mar/22/11/26th-meu-recovers-stranded-pilot-in-mission-only-a-ar-881207/

Marines from New River Air Station lead the way in a recovery effort in Libya after a US Air Force F-15 Strike Eagle jet crashed just south of the city of Benghazi.

“Only a Marine Expeditionary Unit can do this in this kind of timeline,” said Capt. Timothy Patrick with the 2nd MEF. That timeline: 3 hours and 30 minutes. That’s how long it took Marines with the 26th MEU to rescue a stranded F-15 fighter pilot.

It was all part of a mission called Tactical Recovery of Aircraft Personnel, also called TRAP.

“The cause of the F-15 crash is unknown at this time; however, the TRAP force quickly retrieved one of the pilots who is in good condition, according to the doctor assigned to the 26th MEU,” said Capt. Patrick.

[Little Star]

3. Maybe just aboard the ships in the Mediterranean Sea,....

not actually on the ground?

[JCMach1]

4. Special forces helping the targeting... standard operations