.More U.S. Marines are headed to Iraq's violent Anbar province
WASHINGTON: About 2,200 U.S. Marines are headed from their ships in the Persian Gulf to an undisclosed location in Iraq's western Anbar province to help shore up U.S. combat power in an area riddled with insurgent violence.
The move, intended as a short-term measure, underscores the seriousness of the conflict in Anbar, where the insurgency is entrenched and well-organized and where U.S. soldiers and Marines are getting killed almost daily.
Maj. Matt McLaughlin, a spokesman for U.S. Central Command, said Thursday that members of the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit were "in the process of transitioning and moving" from their ships to a transit point for deployment to Anbar. He said he could not discuss specifics of their mission or exact destination.
It will be the 15th MEU's third tour in Iraq. It participated in the initial invasion in March 2003 and returned in March 2005.
A Marine expeditionary unit typically is organized as a combined arms team, meaning it includes infantry, armor and artillery, as well as a helicopter squadron and a small number of AV-8B Harrier fighter jets.
The move was disclosed Wednesday by Gen. John Abizaid during testimony to the Senate Armed Services Committee. He said he approved the deployment "to help address" concerns expressed by Maj. Gen. Richard Zilmer, who commands all U.S. forces in Anbar. Abizaid did not elaborate, but Zilmer's staff has indicated in recent months that an increase in troop levels could help the insurgency fight in Anbar.
Abizaid acknowledged, when pressed during questioning by panel members, that Anbar is not under the control of U.S. or Iraqi forces. He added, however, that the security problem in Baghdad is even worse, and Anbar's problems therefore must be deemed secondary to suppressing sectarian violence in the capital.
About 30,000 U.S. troops already are in Anbar, which includes the trouble spots of Fallujah and Ramadi. The province stretches west from Baghdad to the borders with Syria, Jordan and Saudi Arabia.
About 141,000 U.S. troops are in all of Iraq.
When U.S. commanders decided to step up security efforts in Baghdad last summer they moved forces into the capital from elsewhere in Iraq; one combat unit was shifted from Rawah, a restive town in Anbar.
The 15th MEU was aboard ships in the Gulf as part of a normal deployment that included recently participating in exercises with the Indian navy. It had been designated by Abizaid as a reserve force for Iraq, to be tapped in the event circumstances required a temporary boost in combat power. Until recently an Army combat brigade also had been held in reserve in Kuwait, but it also was sent into Iraq to reinforce security.
IHT
The move, intended as a short-term measure, underscores the seriousness of the conflict in Anbar, where the insurgency is entrenched and well-organized and where U.S. soldiers and Marines are getting killed almost daily.
Maj. Matt McLaughlin, a spokesman for U.S. Central Command, said Thursday that members of the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit were "in the process of transitioning and moving" from their ships to a transit point for deployment to Anbar. He said he could not discuss specifics of their mission or exact destination.
It will be the 15th MEU's third tour in Iraq. It participated in the initial invasion in March 2003 and returned in March 2005.
A Marine expeditionary unit typically is organized as a combined arms team, meaning it includes infantry, armor and artillery, as well as a helicopter squadron and a small number of AV-8B Harrier fighter jets.
The move was disclosed Wednesday by Gen. John Abizaid during testimony to the Senate Armed Services Committee. He said he approved the deployment "to help address" concerns expressed by Maj. Gen. Richard Zilmer, who commands all U.S. forces in Anbar. Abizaid did not elaborate, but Zilmer's staff has indicated in recent months that an increase in troop levels could help the insurgency fight in Anbar.
Abizaid acknowledged, when pressed during questioning by panel members, that Anbar is not under the control of U.S. or Iraqi forces. He added, however, that the security problem in Baghdad is even worse, and Anbar's problems therefore must be deemed secondary to suppressing sectarian violence in the capital.
About 30,000 U.S. troops already are in Anbar, which includes the trouble spots of Fallujah and Ramadi. The province stretches west from Baghdad to the borders with Syria, Jordan and Saudi Arabia.
About 141,000 U.S. troops are in all of Iraq.
When U.S. commanders decided to step up security efforts in Baghdad last summer they moved forces into the capital from elsewhere in Iraq; one combat unit was shifted from Rawah, a restive town in Anbar.
The 15th MEU was aboard ships in the Gulf as part of a normal deployment that included recently participating in exercises with the Indian navy. It had been designated by Abizaid as a reserve force for Iraq, to be tapped in the event circumstances required a temporary boost in combat power. Until recently an Army combat brigade also had been held in reserve in Kuwait, but it also was sent into Iraq to reinforce security.
IHT
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