Current Marine Corps Operations
Although principally structured to as a heavy naval amphibious assualt force, the USMC
for the last 40 plus years continous to find itself deeply engaged in long terms counter-insurgency
warfare operations, first against communists and now against militant islamists.
As the size of actively hostile militant islamists forces seeking direct confrontation
with American and Her Allies continues to increase in the Middle East and elsewhere in the world
one must naturally assume that the USMC will have continually greater demands placed upon
it to combat this threat - both directly and indirectly.
Since 2003, the current area of operations for the USMC has been the western desert
provinces of Iraq (particularly Al-Anbar and its principal cities) with nearly all of its
principal combat, support and reserve units rotating through this sector. The nature of the
battle here should not be confused with the other hotspots such as Afghanistan (vs Taliban in
area patrolled by NATO forces), Baghdad (Sunni-Shia sectarian civil war in area patrolled by US Army units),
or Basra (Inter-Shia sectarian civil war in area patrolled by British forces).
Instead, Al-Anbar is a predominantly Sunni cultural/ethnic/religious area. The Sunnis use
to be the primary power holders in Iraq yet make up barely 20% of the total population of the
country which development has left them highly frustrated and suspicious of the new
predominantly Shia government. Furthermore, many additional Sunni families have migrated
into this region to flee the ongoing sectarian warfare and Shia death squads of Baghdad.
This political situation made this are very ripe for the development of a Sunni insurgency.
It also appears to be a very inticing battleground for young foreign radical islamic militants
it have been indoctrinated to seek out the destruction of modern western cultural with a near
suicidal fanaticism. Support from a local population currently frustrated with the political
agenda of both the Americans and Iraqis has made this area a safe haven for the insurgents.
Strategic Goals
Clearly the principal strategic goal for Marine forces and their partners operating
in the western desert regions is to develop a change in the political situation for the local
Sunni population.
Success in obtaining this goal will allow the Marines to both isolate the
radical foreign insurgents and also turn over responsibility for security to the local
population. Success here will also have a major influence in reducing the level of
sectarian violence currently ongoing in Baghdad.
Failure in obtaining this goal will lead to further instability and unrest in
the Middle East and further embolden radical islamic militants to engage in extreme
acts of terror throughout the world. Evidence of USMC tactical failures is seen in the
increasing number of monthly USMC casualties in the region.
The principal battleground for obtaining these goals will be the capital city of Ramadi
and other major cities and border towns. When the towns become secure they will provide
security for interconnecting highways and principal economic and energy resources.
Cooperation from the local population is a requirement for any type of long term successful
relationship. Key elements to win over this local cooperation is to provide security, education
employment, and then opportunity for a self-sustaining economy.
Tactical Options to Achieve Strategic Goals
- 1) Clear and Rebuild Principal Cities - This was done in Fallujah and Najaf but is an extreme
and very costly option - in lives, property destruction and fiscal cost to rebuild.
However, both Fallujah and Najaf have been relatively violence free since those major battles.
- 2) Clear, Hold and Rebuild - This was the major tactical plan for 2006,
but it appears to be failing because of the inability of a Shia dominated Iraq Army to
adequately deploy troops to police the Sunni provinces.
- 3) Surge in Ally troop Forces - This will probably result in an increased number
of confrontations which would logically result in an increased number of casualties for
both sides. However, it will done very little towards changing the underlying political climate.
- 4) Engage in Diplomacy with various Sunni Tribe Leaders - this involves serious
and meaningful dialogue with the principal political power brokers of the region. Since Oct 2006,
this appears to be having a positive effect as local shieks are starting to contribute
significant numbers of recruits for local police forces and also intelligence information
against foreign jihadists begin.
- 5) Infiltration of Insurgency Forces - This requires a high degree of familiarity
with the local language, culture and customs. Because of the huge gulf between middle eastern
and western cultures, this option will be difficult to achieve.
- 6) Develop Local Opportunities for Success - "The Carrot Approach" - This
conditional diplomatic approach educates the local population that when they cooperate
in providing their own security then opportunities for economic prosperity become available.
This process requires both a good public relations plan and a good rebuilding plan.
Unfortunately, the previous Iraqi rebuilding plans have been a mixture of successes and failures.
- 7) Provincial Border Fence - A key rule in warfare is to "isolate the battlefield"
in order to keep reinforcements from coming and to keep the bad guys from escaping out to fight
again another day. A national hi-tech border fence along the borders with Saudi Arabia, Jordan
and Syria is needed to stop the flow of foreign insurgents. Those countries should want to
participate since they run the risk of the religious insurgency and refugees spilling into their
territory. The USMC may also want a security fence perimeter along the borders shared with
other provinces to stop the flow of sectarian militants (in and out).
Plan For The Future
With Radical Islamic Militancy on the rise around the world, it is appearing more and more
likely that the Battle of Anbar Province is an prime example of that type of warfare and enemy
that America and its Allies will find itself hotly engaged with going into the 21st Century.
(Similar examples can already be seen in Afghanistan, Somalia, Palestine, and to a lesser extent
in some former Soviet republics with prodominantly muslim populations.)
Thus we find the USMC at the forefront of The War on Terror in developing the theory and practices for defeating
the assymetrical threat to global security it poses. But the USMC cannot win this war by itself.
It must also be actively training national and local security forces around the war to provide
the critically needed assistance.
More Resource Links
Know Your Enemy
Jihad Watch - watches worldwide radical islamic militant recruitment efforts
Militant Islamic Monitor - watches worldwide radical islamic militant recruitment efforts
USMC News
Defend American - US Dept of Defence - frequent updates on its
efforts to combat the War on Terror.
US Marine Corps - Main website
Support Our Troops
America Supports You
War on Terror Special Programs
Divest Terror
- a nationwide campaign aimed at some 400 public companies worldwide that are providing revenues, technology and moral cover to governments that sponsor terrorism.
United States Marine Corps [USMC]
