thedrifter
05-22-03, 06:45 AM
May 21, 4:32 PM EDT
Top Marine: Forces Out of Gulf by August
By ROBERT BURNS
AP Military Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) -- More than 60,000 Marines sent to the Persian Gulf for the Iraq war probably will be home by late summer, the top Marine said Wednesday.
Gen. Michael W. Hagee, commandant of the Marine Corps, told reporters that final decisions would be made by Army Gen. Tommy Franks, who controls all forces in the Gulf.
"We have plans to come out (of the Gulf) this summer," Hagee said, adding that the target date was the end of August.
The exact timing will be determined by Franks' assessment of progress in stabilizing Iraq and the expected arrival of fresh ground forces from coalition countries to partially relieve the Americans.
The 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, with about 2,500 Marines aboard three warships, is due to arrive Monday at its home base of Camp Lejeune, N.C., making it the first major U.S. ground force to return from Iraq. The 24th began what had been scheduled to be a six-month overseas mission last August; it stayed on duty an extra three months because of the war.
Most U.S. Navy ships and many Air Force aircraft that participated in the war have already left. All five of the aircraft carrier battle groups that launched planes and missiles against Iraq have returned from duty or are on their way home. The only carrier left in the Gulf area is the USS Nimitz, which arrived after major combat ended to relieve the USS Abraham Lincoln.
The USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier is due to return to Norfolk, Va., on Friday. The air wing that launched 1,280 combat missions into Iraq from aboard the Truman in the eastern Mediterranean is returning to Norfolk and several other home bases on Thursday.
The last of the five carriers, the USS Theodore Roosevelt, is due back in Norfolk on May 29.
Ground forces in Iraq are still struggling to restore order, capture senior members of the former Saddam Hussein regime and lay the foundation for establishing a new Iraqi government.
Hagee said that about 65,000 Marines were deployed for the war, representing 68 percent of the Marine Corps' total warfighting force. They included 80 percent of the Corps' infantry battalions, 100 percent of its tank and light armored vehicle battalions and 100 percent of its Harrier fighter squadrons.
Most of the Marines moved into Iraq from bases in Kuwait, but there also were several Marine helicopter squadrons and five Harrier squadrons that operated from Navy ships in the Gulf.
They will return to bases in the United States and Okinawa, Japan.
Hagee was asked to explain an unusual episode during the latter stages of the drive toward Baghdad in which Col. Joe W. Dowdy was removed as commander of the 1st Marine Regiment, which has about 5,000 troops. Military officials confirmed Dowdy's removal at the time but did not give a reason.
"The division commander lost confidence in him," Hagee said, referring to Maj. Gen. James N. Mattis, commander of the 1st Marine Division. Asked why Mattis lost confidence, Hagee said, "You would have to ask the division commander."
It is extremely rare for a regimental commander to be relieved of duty during combat.
Once Mattis lost confidence in Dowdy, "the right thing to do - especially on the battlefield - is to find another commander," Hagee said. He did not elaborate.
Hagee also said he is not surprised that U.S. forces in Iraq have not found any chemical or biological weapons, and he believes they eventually will be uncovered.
"We were absolutely convinced that he (Saddam) would use them" in the war, Hagee said. On the day U.S. forces entered Iraq, "the only question in my mind was when."
Sempers,
Roger
Top Marine: Forces Out of Gulf by August
By ROBERT BURNS
AP Military Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) -- More than 60,000 Marines sent to the Persian Gulf for the Iraq war probably will be home by late summer, the top Marine said Wednesday.
Gen. Michael W. Hagee, commandant of the Marine Corps, told reporters that final decisions would be made by Army Gen. Tommy Franks, who controls all forces in the Gulf.
"We have plans to come out (of the Gulf) this summer," Hagee said, adding that the target date was the end of August.
The exact timing will be determined by Franks' assessment of progress in stabilizing Iraq and the expected arrival of fresh ground forces from coalition countries to partially relieve the Americans.
The 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, with about 2,500 Marines aboard three warships, is due to arrive Monday at its home base of Camp Lejeune, N.C., making it the first major U.S. ground force to return from Iraq. The 24th began what had been scheduled to be a six-month overseas mission last August; it stayed on duty an extra three months because of the war.
Most U.S. Navy ships and many Air Force aircraft that participated in the war have already left. All five of the aircraft carrier battle groups that launched planes and missiles against Iraq have returned from duty or are on their way home. The only carrier left in the Gulf area is the USS Nimitz, which arrived after major combat ended to relieve the USS Abraham Lincoln.
The USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier is due to return to Norfolk, Va., on Friday. The air wing that launched 1,280 combat missions into Iraq from aboard the Truman in the eastern Mediterranean is returning to Norfolk and several other home bases on Thursday.
The last of the five carriers, the USS Theodore Roosevelt, is due back in Norfolk on May 29.
Ground forces in Iraq are still struggling to restore order, capture senior members of the former Saddam Hussein regime and lay the foundation for establishing a new Iraqi government.
Hagee said that about 65,000 Marines were deployed for the war, representing 68 percent of the Marine Corps' total warfighting force. They included 80 percent of the Corps' infantry battalions, 100 percent of its tank and light armored vehicle battalions and 100 percent of its Harrier fighter squadrons.
Most of the Marines moved into Iraq from bases in Kuwait, but there also were several Marine helicopter squadrons and five Harrier squadrons that operated from Navy ships in the Gulf.
They will return to bases in the United States and Okinawa, Japan.
Hagee was asked to explain an unusual episode during the latter stages of the drive toward Baghdad in which Col. Joe W. Dowdy was removed as commander of the 1st Marine Regiment, which has about 5,000 troops. Military officials confirmed Dowdy's removal at the time but did not give a reason.
"The division commander lost confidence in him," Hagee said, referring to Maj. Gen. James N. Mattis, commander of the 1st Marine Division. Asked why Mattis lost confidence, Hagee said, "You would have to ask the division commander."
It is extremely rare for a regimental commander to be relieved of duty during combat.
Once Mattis lost confidence in Dowdy, "the right thing to do - especially on the battlefield - is to find another commander," Hagee said. He did not elaborate.
Hagee also said he is not surprised that U.S. forces in Iraq have not found any chemical or biological weapons, and he believes they eventually will be uncovered.
"We were absolutely convinced that he (Saddam) would use them" in the war, Hagee said. On the day U.S. forces entered Iraq, "the only question in my mind was when."
Sempers,
Roger