Shaffer
09-10-02, 07:57 AM
CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa - One year after the attacks on America, Marines on
Okinawa and mainland Japan remain more driven toward fulfilling their role
in regional security and the hunt for terrorists.
Marine Lt. Gen. Wallace C. Gregson, commander of Okinawa's 3rd Marine
Expeditionary Force, said life changed radically for Marines in the region.
And while some things may never be the same, the Corps' commitment to
regional peace and stability is stronger than ever.
"The challenges of a new century are not nearly as predictable as they were
in the past," Gregson said. "In the years ahead, we must defend the ideals
of our nation and our allies against unknown, the uncertain and the
unexpected. We did not ask for this fight, but we will win it."
Gregson made the statement at a news conference here prior to the one-year
anniversary of the attacks that destroyed the Twin Towers at the World Trade
Center and damaged the Pentagon.
Operation Enduring Freedom, the worldwide campaign against terrorism, found
servicemembers from around the globe deploying largely to Afghanistan,
including some 500 Marines from the Far East.
Marines also deployed to Basilan island in the Philippines to help root out
the al-Qaida-linked Abu Sayyaf group.
Gregson said that the Marines' mission here hasn't changed, and that
Okinawa-based Marines remain a pillar in the fight against terror in the
Pacific theater.
"We are committed to the U.S.-Japan security treaty, providing for the
mutual protection of Japan and the continued stability of the Asia Pacific
region," he said. "Marine forces on Okinawa are well-positioned both to
defend Japan and to respond quickly and effectively to a regional
contingency that could impact our mutual security and prosperity."
Gregson said that in the wake of last year's attacks, Marine bases in the
area tightened security.
"We did not know at that time, and we still have no knowledge or reason to
believe, that there is any specific threat to any of our bases in Japan,"
Gregson said. "Since the initial reaction, of course, we have changed the
more visible parts of our security conditions greatly. Part of the
fundamental condition remains the same, that is that we do not want to
invite any mischief or any attention because of somebody's perception that
we're not being alert."
While Marines on Okinawa haven't responded to threats outside base gates,
they've contributed to the war on terrorism: More than 500 Marines have
deployed directly to Afghanistan from Japan to aid in air operations. Marine
engineers and Navy Seabees deployed from Okinawa joined Special Forces
soldiers on Basilan Island earlier this year.
Gregson said renewed emphasis has been placed on military relationships with
regional allies and nontraditional allies, such as Sri Lanka, the Maldives
and India.
Military relations with Indonesia officially remain severed since the
atrocities of East Timor, but more cooperation on security measures already
has taken place. Indonesia, with a large Muslim population, is suspected to
be just one country where so-called al-Qaida sleeper cells might exist.
For that, Marines have retooled their training.
Fundamentally, nothing has really changed, Gregson said. The tactics are
still valid and the training still true, but there is a renewed emphasis on
Marines working outside their own ranks and alongside forces of allied
nations.
Marines on Okinawa are already one step ahead as they routinely deploy with
Japan Self-Defense Forces and allied nations.
"I think the new situation places a high importance on working with allies,
working with partners and working with friends," Gregson said, "in
particular with our most junior members of the service - our junior NCOs and
junior officers - to make sure they understand the need and the importance
of working with coalition forces and alliance forces."
Gregson said new ideas of combining existing capabilities - ideas such as
the Corps' new 4th Marine Expeditionary Brigade - allow for new potent
anti-terror capabilities.
The 4th MEB brings traditional security and small-unit anti-terror training
together with counter-chemical capabilities.
Those sorts of ideas, Corps officials aren't holding to themselves, but
sharing with allied nations in the fight against terror.
"This is an effort that's going to require the maximum in cooperation among
all of us to be able to eliminate this threat," Gregson said.
Okinawa and mainland Japan remain more driven toward fulfilling their role
in regional security and the hunt for terrorists.
Marine Lt. Gen. Wallace C. Gregson, commander of Okinawa's 3rd Marine
Expeditionary Force, said life changed radically for Marines in the region.
And while some things may never be the same, the Corps' commitment to
regional peace and stability is stronger than ever.
"The challenges of a new century are not nearly as predictable as they were
in the past," Gregson said. "In the years ahead, we must defend the ideals
of our nation and our allies against unknown, the uncertain and the
unexpected. We did not ask for this fight, but we will win it."
Gregson made the statement at a news conference here prior to the one-year
anniversary of the attacks that destroyed the Twin Towers at the World Trade
Center and damaged the Pentagon.
Operation Enduring Freedom, the worldwide campaign against terrorism, found
servicemembers from around the globe deploying largely to Afghanistan,
including some 500 Marines from the Far East.
Marines also deployed to Basilan island in the Philippines to help root out
the al-Qaida-linked Abu Sayyaf group.
Gregson said that the Marines' mission here hasn't changed, and that
Okinawa-based Marines remain a pillar in the fight against terror in the
Pacific theater.
"We are committed to the U.S.-Japan security treaty, providing for the
mutual protection of Japan and the continued stability of the Asia Pacific
region," he said. "Marine forces on Okinawa are well-positioned both to
defend Japan and to respond quickly and effectively to a regional
contingency that could impact our mutual security and prosperity."
Gregson said that in the wake of last year's attacks, Marine bases in the
area tightened security.
"We did not know at that time, and we still have no knowledge or reason to
believe, that there is any specific threat to any of our bases in Japan,"
Gregson said. "Since the initial reaction, of course, we have changed the
more visible parts of our security conditions greatly. Part of the
fundamental condition remains the same, that is that we do not want to
invite any mischief or any attention because of somebody's perception that
we're not being alert."
While Marines on Okinawa haven't responded to threats outside base gates,
they've contributed to the war on terrorism: More than 500 Marines have
deployed directly to Afghanistan from Japan to aid in air operations. Marine
engineers and Navy Seabees deployed from Okinawa joined Special Forces
soldiers on Basilan Island earlier this year.
Gregson said renewed emphasis has been placed on military relationships with
regional allies and nontraditional allies, such as Sri Lanka, the Maldives
and India.
Military relations with Indonesia officially remain severed since the
atrocities of East Timor, but more cooperation on security measures already
has taken place. Indonesia, with a large Muslim population, is suspected to
be just one country where so-called al-Qaida sleeper cells might exist.
For that, Marines have retooled their training.
Fundamentally, nothing has really changed, Gregson said. The tactics are
still valid and the training still true, but there is a renewed emphasis on
Marines working outside their own ranks and alongside forces of allied
nations.
Marines on Okinawa are already one step ahead as they routinely deploy with
Japan Self-Defense Forces and allied nations.
"I think the new situation places a high importance on working with allies,
working with partners and working with friends," Gregson said, "in
particular with our most junior members of the service - our junior NCOs and
junior officers - to make sure they understand the need and the importance
of working with coalition forces and alliance forces."
Gregson said new ideas of combining existing capabilities - ideas such as
the Corps' new 4th Marine Expeditionary Brigade - allow for new potent
anti-terror capabilities.
The 4th MEB brings traditional security and small-unit anti-terror training
together with counter-chemical capabilities.
Those sorts of ideas, Corps officials aren't holding to themselves, but
sharing with allied nations in the fight against terror.
"This is an effort that's going to require the maximum in cooperation among
all of us to be able to eliminate this threat," Gregson said.