Conway: Marines too comfy at Iraq bases

[GreatAmerican]

http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2007/06/marine_conway_070619/

Marines are getting too comfortable at their dug-in bases in Iraq, the Corps’ top officer told an audience at the Naval War College on June 13.

“Due to the available infrastructure in the Al Anbar and the longevity of our presence, Marines are getting used to living at fixed bases and with more comforts of life than we really need,” Commandant Gen. James Conway said in comments provided to Marine Corps Times....

 

[Marine4Life]

I think that they put troops on official United States Military bases to protect them. This may seem hard to follow, but if an official base that has been set up there for years and civilians live there and it is attacked, the course of action would be more severe and better justified by the press. Lets say hypothetically that an improvised base, something meant for stationing troops for no longer than a week, was attacked and 500 marines were killed. If the president ordered more troops in to keep the situation under control he would be crucified by the media saying that he is sending more troops to be killed. If an established base was attacked and 50 civilians died alongside 500 marines, and the president sent in more troops to control the situation, the media would not attack him as much saying his actions were justified. In the end they need to leave the war in the hands of generals, not politicians.

 

[Zaphod]

If an established base was attacked and 50 civilians died alongside 500 marines, and the president sent in more troops to control the situation, the media would not attack him as much saying his actions were justified.

My! Aren't YOU the optimist!

 

[Marine4Life]

I just don't think that politics have any place in war

 

[USNA69]

I don't think Conway's comments have anything to do with politics. I think he was simply stating that traditional Marine tactics involve light fast moving forces always on the alert, not entrenched in permanent surroundings where they may get too comfortable, let their guard down, and not be anxious to leave their surroundings to do battle.

Anytime the Marines commence looking too much like the Army, fundings go to the Army instead of the Marines.