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Win Mcnamee / Getty Images
A V-22 Osprey lands at the Pentagon following a meeting between U.S. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta and Japanese Minister of Defense Satoshi Morimoto August 3, 2012 in Arlington, Virginia.
Highlighting the continuing fallout from the Sept. 11, 2012 attack on an American consulate in Libya that took the lives of four Americans, defense officials told NBC News on Wednesday that the U.S. Marine Corps is on the verge of announcing a new group tasked with crisis response in north Africa and eastern Europe.
The group, which will be known as the Marine Air-Ground Task Force, will likely be based at Naval Air Station Sigonella in Sicily, Italy. The team will be capable of rapid deployment for responding to security threats throughout the region — including a U.S. embassy under attack.
Orders for the new Marine unit will likely go to the secretary of defense for approval late next week. The task force will have around 1,000 Marines and a variety of aircraft, including a half-dozen Ospreys — a airplane that can take off vertically like a helicopter but once airborne is capable of high-speed flight.
If approved, the land-based task force will deploy from Camp Lejeune in North Carolina early this spring.
The announcement of the new Marine group comes just weeks after Republicans in Congress hounded former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton over why the diplomatic mission in Libya was not better protected the night of the deadly attack that took the life of U.S. Ambassador Chris Stevens and three other Americans.
Hours before the attack, Stevens sent a cable to the State Department warning of deteriorating security conditions. Yet, during hearings on Capitol Hill, Clinton said the warning never came to her attention because the State Department receives more than one million cables each year.
Former Sen. Chuck Hagel could be the one to approve the Marine Air-Ground Task Force — if he is confirmed as Defense Secretary when Congress returns from recess. Senate Republicans blocked a vote to approve his nomination last week.
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Spending more money we don't have while our infrastructure and health care system crumbles.
Where should we get the $ to fix our crumbling?
Gee, I don't know.... The last time I checked this country still owns the presses to the world's key currency.
And it's already taken advantage of this fact by building a military force big enough to annihilate any country that wants to take that away.
How much do those Ospreys cost? Didn't they kill that program?
after billions of dollars i think they finally made one that worked...
Not to denegrate our Service men and women, but would that military force be the same one that took 4 years to win in Iraq?, or would it be the one that's taking more than a decade to "pacify" Afghanistan? It's one thing to watch world events go by according to the media, but it's a whole 'nother story to be one who is actively integrated into those events. I'm not a war hawk, but my feelings about defense, and the Marine Corps in particular can be summed up in one sentence. "No one likes to fight, but someone has to know how and be willing."
Semper Fi
$200 million (8 Ospreys) were destroyed by Taliban ground attack Sept 1st somewhere in Afghanistan. Why can't they use a helicopter? Whatever. Someone needs to guard the independent contractors.
Oh Hillary dear, you should have had a better answer. So a US Ambassador sends millions of cables each year? No they don't Hillary and you know this. This is a US Ambassador we are talking about, not ordinary random threats that the US has been receiving way before 9/11/01. Huge difference.
Also, I thought the US has military on stand by throughout the world? It's only going to get worse because Obama wants to reduce our fleets and military. He is weakening our military right before our eyes. I feel so sorry of our soldiers because they have to carry an even heavier burden. I think this is the reason Gen. Allen is choosing to retire. He wants out of this mess. He is a smart man and he sees what is coming.
In the meantime the radical terrorists are sitting by just waiting for a weaker America and then strike. We've already been hit by China through cyber attacking.
Jo Ann, it was Reagan that started closing the military bases, and without places to house and train our military there is no way we can keep as we had. He even got rid of Weinberger as Secretary of Defense and replaced him with Carlucci, because Weinberger was against reducing the military and closing bases. There are still cuts occuring as a result of Carlucci's BRAC proposal. I'm not saying Obama's hands are clean in this situation, but be aware of where it all started and whom to blame for the beginning of the cuts.
This whole deal about this Bengazi attack, was the Christians In Action didn't want a big footprint in Bengazi, things were kept low-key, they didn't want any noise, they wanted everything very quiet. These are really dangerous places, our foreign service people are in harms way, regardless of what all the talk shows say, there is a lot of behind the scenes action between the CIA, the diplomats, and diplomats security service, which a large part is classified. Some of those guys made some bad assessments and decisions, and our people died. Now we have another rapid response force, to use in North Africa, and I'm sure we have better ways of communicating with said force. Next time we will have boots and equipment on the ground faster than you can say "the talking points did not fit with what the republicans didn't understand because most of the info was classified, and President Obama got reelected anyway!!"
This article makes it sound like a Marine Air-Ground Task Force is some new type of unit. MAGTFs have been around for quite a while. The only thing new would be having one forward based in Sigonella to provide a rapid response capability. And to answer the question about why use the Ospreys instead of helicopters, it is because the Osprey can travel 2-3 times faster than a transport helicopter and has a considerably greater range. This allows the Marines to get where they need to be faster yet still have an aircraft that does not need a landing strip to set down. The only question I have about this plan is why it was not done years ago when things in North Africa first started to deteriorate. Short of having Marines guarding the embassies and consulates all the time, which I still think is the right answer, this is probably the best alternative available. Had this unit been in place on 9/11/12 ambassador Stevens and the three other Americans with him might still be alive. I do not think we should be relying on foreign forces and foreign contractors to protect our embassies and consulates. These facilities are US soil and should be protected by the US military. It is one thing to use contractors to provide routine security functions like managing visitor passes and maybe staffing the gatehouse, but when it comes to protecting the facility against and attack, there should be US Marines there to do the job.
who is the man?" If you really think that printing money to get out of our troubles as a country is a good idea than you are dumber than the ones running this country. Now I understand why they were elected.
And as far as Hillary Clinton, the problem wasn't that she didn't get the memo. It was why the White House admitted the scene was being watched LIVE, while it happened and DIDN'T SEND ANY HELP!!!!
Well let's see how the republicans are going to back step this.
Lisa, I don't want to go back 30 years to lay blame. More military closings are happening RIGHT NOW. Let's discuss things that are happening RIGHT NOW. The military downsizing can be stopped but Obama chooses not to. The Middle East is more dangerous today than it was when Reagan was alive. The last time a US Ambassador was killed happened before Reagan came into office.
@ JS in SD,
Have to disagree with your general theme JS.
Convention rules that primary responsibility for the protection of a diplomatic facility rests with the host government. The limited USMC force normally deployed is only there as a last line of defence. And I can't, by the way, include a CIA 'safe house' in the definition of a diplomatic facility.
Historically, when general lawlessness reigns and a diplomatic facility is thereby threatened, that facility is prudently and swiftly evacuated. Why was that not the case on this occasion? Something smells!
Many contend that direct intervention by a US fighting force would have been the desired response in the Benghazi case. But that is ill-considered and opens a diplomatic can of worms, primarily airing the issue of sovreignty amongst other things. Different matter had the host government requested such support of course.
I wonder how Americans might feel were a foreign combat unit to arbitrarily enter US territory to secure their own diplomatic facility, one that they considered was being threatened by civil unrest?
Do it and good luck Marines...........
This is all well and good, but the recent attack in Libya was foreseen to the point we had drones at the embassy to "monitor the situation" before the attack even got underway so what good is it going to do to have such a RRT if they're going to wait until the damage is done before they react or respond? ... but this helps to take focus off the administration's screw up and make them look "hawkish" and "to be feared"
If you stop listening to the Fox News 'attacking points' and start using logic to understand what happened, the errors occurred at the career bureaucrat level, so it would have happened even under the Bush/Cheney/Rove administration. It's not a 'who's the President right now so we can blame him' specific screw up.
Hey Former Marine. I guess you are a liberal, Figures that a Former marine would be the on to blame. I guess you didnt take semper Fi serious. In the Army we never blamed someone else.
Bengazi WAS AND WILL FOREVER BE an UNHONORABLE attempt to sway a presidential election. Honor does not reside in the republican party any longer. Obviously.
notice he is a FORMER Marine, piece of @!$%# if you ask this Marine. Good luck with this new task force Marines, kick some ass.
If anyone recalls the USMC used to be in charge of embassy protection until it was whored up by republicans who put it out private companies. Can you say Cheney?
only because you bitch liberals complained about the cost so a way was found to cut the expense, get your b.s. straight klondiko
rocky, it was not the Republicans trying to hide a major @!$%#-up and lets not forget it was YOUR president who did everything he could to keep it out of the news so he wouldn't look bad before the election, now THAT was un-honorable, your another liberal who cannot think for himself and simply repeats the liberal b.s. It's no wonder the U.S. is going to hell so quickly.
@Former Marine Sgt, I think you need to step away from MSNBC's talking points.
Marine Air Ground Task Forces (MAGTF) have been around since 1963 this is nothing new just an adaptation to current tactical situtions that have arisen. Everyone complaining about how much this is costing fails to realize that during "peacetime" periods for example from 1993-2001 there are normally two MAGTF deployed at the same time. During the peroid where Benghazi happened there were at least two MAGTF's in the area, one in the Med and one if not more in the Gulf. It is nothing more than a political ploy to take the heat off the politicians who did not utilize the available assets at hand.
Good, no US ambassy should be more than an hour away from military help. But Italy is too far so I think a US ambassy should be built like a fort.
Obviously you have never seen a US embassy because they are built like forts...........It is better to have a decent foreign policy so that people around the world would not hate America....
They are built like forts. Some of the embassies look like Soviet contractors built them. They project exactly the wrong message to the local populations, unfortunately. Difficult decision between protection and 'ambassadorial' behavior and not one that is easily reconciled.
And sadly radicals were able to penetrate the US Embassy in Egypt. The embassy is one of the toughest to get into. They were able to destroy things on the inside, tear down the American flag and put up a black flag. A quote from CNN, "The black flag, which hangs in full view from inside the complex, is adorned with white characters that read, "There is no God but Allah and Mohammed is his messenger," an emblem often used by Islamic radicals."
Benghazi wasn't, obviously.
And the United States had a very decent policy with Lybia. No point in feeding jam to the pigs, they don't appreciate it. No amount of kindness can win over evil. If we don't want to be evil ourselves, we just have to leave.
Wouldn't it be better if you're at one of our embassies and you come under fire to just run outside and unload a few rounds from your shotgun? If it will work at your home why won't it work at our embassies?
I don't get it---the Marines already have rapid deployment combat force afloat---they are called Marine Expeditionary Units (MEU). There are several afloat at any given time throughout the world. This other force is just a political knee jerk to make it look like the administration is doing something.
Not the same kind of rapid response.
It's Hours vs. days
AND it's specific training for the specialized type of mission likely to be encountered vs. general warfare training.
Semper Fi
you might want to ask why they never sent units in at all. Even the CIA was told to stand down, Dont believe everthing that comes out of the White House, If obamas lips are moving hes lying
Former Marine Sgt--yeah, I got it, but embassy defense/evacuation is already in the mission statement of the MEU's. So you really think putting 1000 Marines in Italy is going to improve anything? Semper Fi
If the new units do not meet your requirements, what do you want to be done so that what happened at Benghazi does not happen again? This is a serious question. Don't point out a problem unless you also have several solutions to present as well. Otherwise, you're just part of the problem.
Hmmmm Quick close the barn door, the horse just ran away. I think this is just more cover up politics as usual.
The deterrent alone is good enough for me. Semper Fi
If the ambassador knew the situation was that bad - why was he there ? On the 9/11 no less. I suspect the Benghazi setup was more about a CIA operation than a "consulate". This was 2 separate places. A "consulate" and a "safe house".
There is no cover up here. Mainly sparsely manned CIA ops away from the main embassy in Tripoli. This not setup like a well fortify and manned embassy because it was not an embassy nor mainly a state department operation in Benghazi.
Always reactive never proactive with this Administration!
Could that be because Boner (Boener? Bohner? sp?) and the Republicans insist on blocking everything this administration tries to do???? It's kind of hard to be proactive when you are voted into office by a majority of Americans and are blocked by Congress at every turn.
He is the CIC the buck stops with him those are the words that came off of his lips!
Lisa: How exactly does Congress block the President? Our Constitution states that all laws/bills must originate in the House. In other words, it isn't the President's job description to come up with ideas, it is job of Congress. When it comes to the military, he is in charge, they can hold back money to attempt to block him but they can't defund any specific line item of the defense department's budget. He could shift the money from the 'new toilet' line to pay for any military issue he needed.
People need to stop beleiving the President is some sort of rock-star who is firmly in control of the government. He has specific duties. One of his jobs is to BLOCK Congress, not for Congress to block him.
Since 1741 and the indian-wars, every generation of my family has served in combat.
Stop this political madness and the sacrifice of American youth to the glory of politicians grab for power and glory at the hands of of the powerless.
a few thoughts come to mind....what about the impeding sequestration and government spending...fiscal cliff.....or other side... AT LEAST 6 months too late. seriously?? we knew there were threats, why are we REACTING instead of being proactive.
5 months after the attack? rapid response from the Marines? This must be another NBC joke.
The Marines could not do anything without the Administration ordering it. If only the four murdered Americans could have held out for five months Obama would have finally done something to save them!
The four 'murdered' Americans were doing their jobs, showing Libyans who were fighting to overthrow an entrenched dictatorship that the US supports their efforts. That's called good foreign policy and it is frequently dangerous, regardless of which political party is currently in office.
San Diego native: except you must have forgotten that the White House admitted to watching the event transpire, LIVE on closed circuit. Yet still didn't attempt to send anyone. Or if they did try and send someone, they never admitted to it. I guess this government is no more 'transparent' than teh previous administrations...
1/2 the country fell for the sales pitch of an honest government, twice. They are laughing at teh stupidity of 1/2 of America. Just wait, both parties will be toting the 'transparent' line in 2016..Why not, it worked.
Job security!!!
Your security is another mans prison.
hey as long as we have a military we will have war. It's that simple.
Having troops in over 100 countries is not Peace.
A little critical thinking will bring things to light.
Talk about closing the barn door after the terrorists have left!
"Hours before the attack, Stevens sent a cable to the State Department warning of deteriorating security conditions. Yet, during hearings on Capitol Hill, Clinton said the warning never came to her attention because the State Department receives more than one million cables each year."
This clearly shows a glaring security weakness. When a vulnerable embassy cries for help, the system needs to respond without requiring permission from the highest levels within the State Department. That would be like asking a local fire department to get permission from the mayor before responding to a fire.
Let me get this straight.
The US borrows money from the Chinese so it can buy fuel from Saudi Arabia to go attack terrorists in Europe while the infrastructure falls apart in the US and the best and brightest minds in the US are rushing to China since they have the money.
Am I missing anything?
The Moose got some bangs.
warrren
"hey as long as we have a military we will have war. It's that simple".
Hey, why did I not think of that, disband our military and wars would stop, love and peace for all. Just sit back and wait. Your simplicity is simple minded. Politicians misuse our military, let's disband the Government.
james only think of it. what if it would work.. It's not been tried in 1000's of years of war and fighting. what is the worst that could happen? It would only at worst mean a different master.
James,
Look at your World History since 1991. The US has been the driving force for most of the military conflicts in the World.
Stupid meaningless wars that accomplish absolutely nothing.
The US is living in the past. Superpowers do not have trouble paying their bills. The only reason the US government can continue to function is because it can sell debt at incredibly low interest rates.That is what is referred to as a Ponzi scheme, and like any Ponzi scheme it has to collapse.
The Integral: Better check into a little deeper. I seem to remember the UN being involved in a few of those wars since 1991. Perhaps if the UN would stop screwing around, with intervention and our money, we wouldn't be seen as the 'world's policeman'.
Stunned,
The line between the UN and the US is very fuzzy. The UN is headquartered in New York!
The US seems to consider itself to be "the most equal among equals".
If you are actually saying that the US has not been "The World's Policeman" since 1945 then you must be referring to something other than the United States.
That should make the four murdered Americans feel real a little better about this President.
Well how about once the "warning of deteriorating security conditions" cable had been sent, you immediately evacuate for your own safety. Make sense?
Only then might you consider sending in a fighting force to prevent the empty consulate buildings from being pockmarked with bullet holes.
ah hell this is a job for FAST why do we always make change .
We have too many embassies around the world, period. We have too many in dangerous places. Why did we have more than one "embassy" in the least stable part of war-torn Libya when we already had one in Tripoli? For the sequester, let's cut down to only one actual embassy in each nation's capital, and then use the internet to manage the rest of the bureacratic need. The taxpayers are paying for a bloated State Dept whose function is more to promote US business interests. Let US businesses promote their own interests at their own expense, and let the CIA build their own stations in these countries.
If it is one of their own meaning the government people nothing is too far out of scope to come to the aid. BUT.. if you are merely a US citizen then the US and the State department has lots and lots of red tape and time for you to rot in a foreign country. This is why only FOOLS would not arm themselves. Most foreign governments don't want to spend any time chasing after citizens of another country unless they can hold them for random. Best Advice to world travelers is have a gun. It is the ONLY think you can rely on to save your life.
Well, hey, a rapid reaction force to help cover the Middle East. Why on earth would anybody think something bad might happen there?
Why was'nt a froce sent in immediately? At the first sign of trouble this should have been done.
But Obama wasn't where he should have, Clinton had her head on not the part that did anythinking. They
both mess up their own stories. But they want someone else to blame. Washington is the home of of
to many dead beats. And we are to blame also. We, the people, are head of this government, and we should demand loud and clear for a full scale investigation by those who would answer to the people and not Washington. When we cast blame, much of it will fall on our own shoulders. I don't care if there was only one
person to protect, that person should have had protection. We have to many jug heads and liars running this country and it's time people stand and get counted. We have to many people selected by Obama from Ill.
who have been proven of Commuinist activities along with the racist in this country. Stay blind people until it's to late to save this country for the next generation.
@ m.correll
Can't go along with your second sentence I'm afraid.
Instead, at the first sign of trouble, the diplomatic personnel should have gotten the hell out of there.
Isn't there at least a "red phone" or some special "cable" address that our ambassadors can/could have use(d) in emergency cases like Benghazi where an emergency cable does not have to be lost among the other 2740 regular business cables received that day?
There should be at least a red phone, special phone number, or special cable address for our embassies to call if they are being attacked or may potentially be attacked that bypasses normal cable channels and gets an immediate response like calling 911, only instead of the police arriving, the marines show up to evacuate and defend against the attack.
Better to deploy and have nothing happen than to have to deploy to pick up the pieces, shift through the aftermath, and secure a location that was attacked. In many cases, had the marines deployed before the attack even started, the presence of the marines may have prevented the attack in the first place since suddenly there was a force present to be reckoned with.
(In case you were wondering about my cables per day reference, 1 million per year divided by 365 days is approximately 2740 cables per day.)
No help was sent for two reasons.
Obama was too busy campaigning to spare the time. His priority to campaign over duties as president shows his lack of commitment and self centered priorities. The cover up made matters even worse. The joker should be impeached for the cover up. Too bad the media allows his to skate through all his bad decisions and poor performances.
Fact is Hillary either was given orders not to send help by Obama or did not have enough nerve to send additional troops into Libya. Was she afraid to make a decision? Everyone praises her performance as secretary of state which I don't understand. What did she accomplish? All I saw he do was attend meetings or meet foreign leaders without one meaningful result. I don't consider handing out or promising to continue millions in foreign aid to countries who hate us an accomplishment but stupid instead.
Bad boys, bad boys, what cha gonna do, what ya gonna do when they come for you. Time to kick ass and take names old school.
Damn, I guess that "little" Benghazi thing shook up some stupid liberals.
It was not important until now.
And please, don't send Marines into war in an Osprey.
That piece of crap has killed more Marines than the enemy.
I am ashamed that the Air Force even got stupid enough to buy a few of these flying death traps.
evidently the Marines just know how to fly them. They've been operating out of Miramar for over a year and haven't had so much as a minor mishap.