If the Libya “kinetic operations” are going to be over so soon, then why
Thousands of Marines from Camp Lejeune, Cherry Point and New River are preparing to head to waters off Libya.
Nearly 2,200 Marines and sailors with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit are preparing the ships they will be deploying with during their mission to the Mediterranean Sea. The USS Bataan is currently docked at the Morehead City State Port.
The 22nd MEU will relieve the 26th MEU which has been involved with Libyan air strikes and with the rescue mission of a downed Air Force pilot last week.
So, they are going to sail across the Atlantic and into the Med to replace a unit after a little over a week of operations? Not buying it.
And the mission merrily creeps along….
So the Marines – the group that invades and takes objectives on the ground is being sent to a region in support of a “no fly zone?”
That makes no sense whatsoever.
Where in the nine hells is the Republican Congress?
Got this from a google alert and thought I would clarify – my son is an infantry Marine assigned to the 26th MEU. They were on a scheduled deployment that left in August (a month early so that they could assist with humanitarian efforts in Pakistan after the flooding there) and were the “force in readiness” in the area, which is why they are involved in the defense of the Libyan people. They are using their Air capabilities and not their Ground capabilities to accomplish this, much to the chagrin of the Marines who remain on ship (most, including my son, went to Afghanistan in January to support operations there) who I’m sure would LOVE to get off the ship. They are returning at their scheduled time and the 22nd MEU is taking their place, as was scheduled long before any activity began in Libya. Nothing sinister, I promise!
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USMCMomAndWife,
I realize that MEU’s have air capabilities. But once again, the air capabilities are for the support of ground troops, not for air superiority.
The Navy and Air Force are much better equipped to deal with the supposed mission in Libya – that of implementing and maintaining a “no fly zone.”
The Marines should not be supporting Libya or the rebels on the ground.
That is not the mission and what we are seeing is that within less than a month, we are starting to see “mission creep.”
It is not a promising future.
Not buying it? maybe reasearch the facts before you run your mouth. The 26th meu has been out for longer than a week. They have only been in libya for that week, and the 22nd is taking over libya. Also consider that the 26th may have left a month early, the 22nd has left 3 months early.
mcwife,
The question is one of tactics, not dates.
Why would the 26th be moved to Libya for only a week as their raison d’etre is not air superiority?
Why would the 22nd be heading to Libya if their raison d’etre is not air superiority?
Why have two Marine units – ground units that have air support capabilities – in the area at once?
If the 26th is coming out of Afghanistan, why wouldn’t you send the 22nd to relieve them in Afghanistan?
Why the buildup of ground forces in the area of Libya?
This move makes no sense tactically or strategically unless you wanted the Marines on the ground in Libya.
If that is the case, the we have moved the mission away from the initial mandate. It’s called “mission creep” for a reason.