U.S. Marines say can keep Iraq levels indefinitely

[SaraDinar]

U.S. Marines say can keep Iraq levels indefinitely
By Will Dunham | April 6, 2006

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Marine Corps can sustain indefinitely its current troop level in Iraq, the No. 2 Marine general said on Thursday.

"To our own surprise, we are able to sustain this tempo, we think, probably indefinitely," Magnus told reporters. "We can sustain 20-25,000 in Iraq indefinitely," he added.

"Now I'm not advocating for 25,000 Marines in Iraq indefinitely. Don't go there on me," Magnus added. "But we thought, we were very concerned, and we are still concerned about making sure that we don't break the Marines and their families and we don't break the readiness of the Corps."

"This is the first time in American history that we've had a long war with an all-volunteer force," Magnus said, but argued against a draft.

"Quite frankly, I don't want draftees in my Marine Corps, or in my Army, or in my Air Force, or in my Navy," Magnus added.

"This is not pejorative about the American population. What I'm saying is: this is a very demanding job. ... This is not something where you want to have the bottom 25 percent of the high school class that didn't graduate show up and run your war in Port-au-Prince or Kandahar," Magnus added.

http://www.boston.com/news/world/mid...n.com+%2F+News

This will get buried under more current news on the regular threads, and it affects the military, hence it is here, too.

Sara.

[stayfrosty5]

...
"This is not pejorative about the American population. What I'm saying is: this is a very demanding job. ... This is not something where you want to have the bottom 25 percent of the high school class that didn't graduate show up and run your war in Port-au-Prince or Kandahar," Magnus added.

http://www.boston.com/news/world/mid...n.com+%2F+News

This will get buried under more current news on the regular threads, and it affects the military, hence it is here, too.

Sara.

Does anyone else think this quote is rather interesting? I'm doubt that someone's SAT scores mean squat when those shots ring off. I also doubt that many soldiers with above average intelligence passed on a college scholarship to go get shot at in the middle of the desert. My brother was in the Army and he's told me that more guys than not in his squad were there because it was basically their only option to "get out."

I maybe completely misinformed, so I'll trade 10 responses ripping me for 1 serious response.

frosty

P.S.- Thanks for the comforting news SaraD.

[panhead]

Does anyone else think this quote is rather interesting? I'm doubt that someone's SAT scores mean squat when those shots ring off. I also doubt that many soldiers with above average intelligence passed on a college scholarship to go get shot at in the middle of the desert. My brother was in the Army and he's told me that more guys than not in his squad were there because it was basically their only option to "get out."

I maybe completely misinformed, so I'll trade 10 responses ripping me for 1 serious response.

frosty

P.S.- Thanks for the comforting news SaraD.

Frosty... there is a big diffrence in an all voulunteer force compared to draftee's.
On the contrary to your experience with your brother.....I served in the Corps 81-94 became a contractor afterwards still work with Marines everyday,know numerous guys from both coast that have served in Iraq
some several tours....I have yet to hear one of them not want to go back.
I believe that it is pretty much left unsaid but they know the job over there isn't finished.
Hope this helps you out.

[REITman]

My brother was in the Army and he's told me that more guys than not in his squad were there because it was basically their only option to "get out."

I maybe completely misinformed, so I'll trade 10 responses ripping me for 1 serious response.

My experience in the Air Force was the opposite of your brother's. More guys than not were there because we chose to serve our country.

Does this qualify as a serious response?