Marines Want Out of Iraq, Into Afghanistan?

Obviously, the big story this morning is this New York Times report, that "the Marine Corps is pressing to remove its forces from Iraq and to send marines instead to Afghanistan, to take over the leading role in combat there."

While still under review, [the proposal's] supporters, including some in the Army, argue that a realignment could allow the Army and Marines each to operate more efficiently in sustaining troop levels for two wars that have put a strain on their forces...

At the moment, there are no major Marine units among the 26,000 or so American forces in Afghanistan. In Iraq there are about 25,000 marines among the 160,000 American troops there... The plan would require a major reshuffling, and it would make marines the dominant American force in Afghanistan, in a war that has broader public support than the one in Iraq...

They said it would allow the Marines to carry out the Afghan mission in a way the Army cannot, by deploying as an integrated Marine Corps task force that included combat aircraft as well as infantry and armored vehicles, while the Army must rely on the Air Force... The Marines... are designed to be an agile, “expeditionary” force on call for quick deployment, and thus can go to war with everything needed to carry out the mission — troops, armor, attack jets and supplies.

DANGER ROOM pal -- and Air Force officer -- John Noonan says "it makes sense from an air war perspective.
The Marines have self-contained air wings, Harriers, Cobras, Hornets, etc that should fill the Afghan mission nicely. That leaves the Air
Force to support the Army in Iraq."

*Anyway, I'm a big fan of the KISS (Keep it simple, stupid!) methodology.... so at first glance I'm liking this plan. Marines in Afghanistan, Army in
Iraq, and the Air Force out somewhere in middle America reminding everyone of how important they are. *

For what it's worth, the *L.A. Times *portrays the Marines' proposal in a much different light:

Marine Corps generals have told high-level civilian and military officials that as the Marines' mission in the once-violent Anbar province in Iraq winds down, the corps is ready -- even eager -- to redeploy combat troops to Afghanistan where fighting has increased...

"If they want us, we're there," said one Marine leader, who asked not to be identified because no decision has been made.

Just being a cynic here for a second: The shift would also allow the Marines to "declare victory" in Anbar, while things are calm there. If the province starts to unravel later... well, hey, that was the Army's fault.