Marines in Iraq want better gear, exit strategy
The Associated Press
Publication Date: 11/02/04
NEAR FALLUJAH, IRAQ - As Americans head to the polls, U.S. Marines squaring off against Iraqi insurgents say they expect trouble in Iraq for years no matter who wins the White House. What they want is better equipment, more pay and a clear exit strategy from their next commander in chief.
Many Marines fighting in Iraq's Sunni Triangle don't talk much about the race between President Bush and Sen. John Kerry. For them, the focus is on staying alive and following orders that they don't expect to change: Defeat the insurgency and help rebuild Iraq.
But what really concerns them is the prospect of an open-ended mission lacking a final benchmark for victory.
"We obviously can't just leave Iraq now and waste all of the good work the Marines have done here," said Hospital Corpsman Quinton Brown, a 24-year-old Chicagoan attached to the 1st Marine Division.
"Regardless, I want to see the next president give us an idea how we're going to end the occupation," he added. "What are we doing while we're here? What's next? Bush has done that to some degree. But we need more."
Marines based in the dangerous areas west and north of Baghdad are preparing for a possible big offensive against insurgent strongholds if they get the go-ahead from interim Prime Minister Ayad Allawi, who has warned he is losing patience with negotiations.
But Marine officers caution that even if U.S. forces overrun the cities of Fallujah and Ramadi, they don't expect the insurgency to evaporate. And troops on the ground say they've heard nothing from either Bush or Kerry indicating Marines will soon leave Iraq.
"It doesn't matter who the president is. Our role should be less and less here - the Iraqis want to do it themselves. But we'll be here for at least the next four years," said Lance Cpl. Charles Revord, 24, of National City, Mich.
With violence expected to intensify ahead of Iraqi elections planned for January as a crucial step in the effort to stabilize the country and entrench democracy, Marines say they need better equipment, particularly well-armored Humvees.
"I hope the Marine Corps gets more funding, for better weapons, better gear and better Humvees," said Lance Cpl. Jonathan Sandoval.
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