Is the Marine Corps Prepared to Conduct Operations in Afghanistan

摘要

The Commandant of the Marine Corps, General James Conway, put forward a proposal in the fall of 2007 for the Marine Corps to assume the U.S. mission in Afghanistan and hand over security operations in the Iraqi province of Al Anbar to the U.S. Army. One of the key arguments of his proposal is as follows: as the U.S. presence in Iraq continues, the mission is increasingly an effort for long-term security forces and not a mission designed for an expeditionary force like the Marines. The Marine Corps' involvement in current operations in Al Anbar has focused its training and preparation on the Iraq security mission. This has negated the Marine Corps' ability to effectively maintain its skills in expeditionary operations as would be characteristic of operations in Afghanistan. After 4 years in the Iraqi theater of operations, it is time for the Marine Corps to return to its expeditionary nature and redirect its efforts to training and equipping to operate effectively in Afghanistan. If the Marines are to be prepared for other operations and theaters, they must recognize the impact Iraq has had on the institution and be prepared to address the resulting deficiencies. A generation of Marines has known only war in Iraq. If the Marine Corps were to conduct operations in Afghanistan, it would have to recognize that its forces are not currently trained or equipped to operate there as light infantry.