Note. USAF Security Forces provide airfield security and guard missiles (nuclear). Sound like a familiar mission? Marine Corps infantry will provide security for EABOs and provide security for HIMARS/Anti-Ship missiles. What is the identity of the Marine Corps again?
via Defense One (SNAFU comments in red)
“I understand the frustrations very much that have led to the decision,”(No he doesn't) said Petraeus. “Nobody wants to see a war ended more than those who have actually fought it, and been privileged to command it(Should read failed to win it when provided with a lavish budget and massive material/manpower) and also write the letters of condolence home every night to America’s mothers and fathers. But I think we need to be really careful with our rhetoric, because ending U.S. involvement in an endless war doesn't end the endless war. It just ends our involvement.(This dude has no off switch...he has no plan to win but wants to continue doing the same thing over and over that has provided suboptimal results) And I fear that this war is going to get worse.”
Petraeus said he worries the Taliban will go on the offensive, ungoverned spaces will grow, and the terrorist organizations that use them will flourish. “I don’t see how you withdraw and maintain the capabilities that one would like to have there still.”
“Frankly, we’re also going to lose that platform that Afghanistan provides for the kind of regional counterterrorism campaign,”(The Special Ops Olympics has been a failure...they had a free hand and still called upon the General Purpose Force to provide support...just like airpower Special Ops is NOT a war winner) he said. “I'm really afraid that we're going to look back two years from now and regret the decision and just wonder if whether we might not have sought to manage it with a modest, sustainable, sustained commitment that could have ensured that al Qaeda and the Islamic State would not re-establish sanctuaries(They will always have a sanctuary in Pakistan and Iran...I still don't know what the REAL OBJECTIVE was) from which they undoubtedly will try to figure out over time how to conduct operations that go after the us, our allies, and our partners.”
McRaven said any decision incurs risks. He added that if the U.S. military is still tasked to respond to terrorism inside Afghanistan, he hopes the U.S. will retain the necessary capabilities in the country and the region.
“If you gave me the resources, I could figure out how to do this(He had the resources),” McRaven said, adding that he has spoken to key players close to the president about it.
“I will tell you from all my conversations with folks that are kind of in the inner circle, they have considered all of those problems,” he said. “All of the warts have been exposed to the president. He understands the risk that he’s taken.”
“Now, are we going to need some people on the ground? Yeah, we are,” he said. “We’re going to need at least some small footprint at a Bagram [Air Base](McRaven should run for Congress...this dude is pure politician..trying to straddle the fence...kinda sad). We’re going to need a small footprint, obviously, in the capital. We’re going to need intelligence resources. I think the administration will figure out how to manage theat.”
Other Obama-era officials weighed in with support. James Clapper, former director of national intelligence, said, “I do have a lot of confidence in the growing capabilities that we have — that we didn’t have 10 or 20 years ago.”
"We are at a different level of capability" with intelligence and have "a lot of over-the-horizon" capability now, said Tom Donilon, former national security advisor. Meanwhile, the Taliban is not the same problem it once was, and if it grows anew, the U.S. can handle it, he said. “The Taliban is not an international threat to the United States.” And he noted that the White House is facing new global needs and changing priorities(I guess this means the campaign is over and the political class in Washington now views China as a legit threat...too little, much too late but that's politicians).
Story here.Sheriff Lott will meet with elected officials and reps of various organizations today to discuss the Summit incident. We are aware of the disturbing video and have taken this incident seriously. After the meeting, more information will be released publicly.
— Richland County Sheriff's Dept. (@RCSD) April 14, 2021
The Marine Corps is making the move to "naval integration" and Littoral Regiments.
But what is the identity of the Marine Corps now?
Critics (and there will always be critics) claimed that the Marine Corps was a second land army. I considered that complete and utter bullshit.
The Marine Corps WAS America's Force in Readiness.
Capable of flexing up and down the spectrum of warfare. Whether it was a fight against the Soviet Bear or taking down insurgents in the Middle East, to responding to disasters in far off lands, the Marine Corps WAS able to meet the challenge.
Can you say that today?
We were one of the legs of America's forcible entry capability. Are we today?
We were called shock troops, devil dogs, and just plain devils because of ferocity.
We were once built upon the idea of every Marine a Rifleman.
Can you say any of that today?
The Headquarters Marine Corps is full speed ahead with their transformation but a HUGE problem (I'm betting both in retention and recruiting) is that the Marine Corps is/has lost its identity.
Is a missile force the right mission for the Marine Corps? Does tossing away independence to fall back under the Navy make sense to the historic fight to gain independence? Is too much being taken for granted, too little being debated and a rush to an uncertain future going too fast?
I think so.
Its past time for a real discussion on the future of the Marine Corps and a debate about where Berger is taking the organization (I'm talking about his "end state") to actually take place.
Leaders need to sack up and either explain this thing or others need to be courageous to ask the hard question in PUBLIC and not in corners of the O-club.
Belarusian Asilak armored vehicle in experimental service in airborne Brigade. pic.twitter.com/kLdrtCKNfK
— The Dead District (@TheDeadDistrict) April 12, 2021
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov called the United States "our adversary" and said that Russia will continue to defend the Russian-speaking population in Ukraine.https://t.co/zU285ohxW5 pic.twitter.com/7k2ktqBqrE
— Rob Lee (@RALee85) April 13, 2021
