Last Marine battalion set to leave Iraq

[The Straight Story]

Last Marine battalion set to leave Iraq


FALLUJAH, Iraq, Dec. 21 (UPI) -- The last deployment for a U.S. Marine Corps unit in Iraq marks the closing of a military chapter for the war as they prepare to leave the country, troops said.

More than 40,000 members of the U.S. Marines rolled over the Kuwait border into Iraq in March 2003, storming toward Baghdad. A near-civil war and more than six years later, the 3rd Battalion, 24th Marines is the last Marine infantry battalion left in Iraq.

Lt. Col. Mark Miner, a battalion commander, told the Marine Corps Times that the security situation in Iraq has changed for the better.

"The level of attacks has significantly decreased," he said. "But you still have to be cautious. You still have to be careful."

http://www.upi.com/Top_News/Special/2009/12/21/Last-Marine-battalion-set-to-leave-Iraq/UPI-60191261423800/

[Iggo]

1. Cool.

Did we win?

[old mark]

2. That's a great start, hope they get to stay home for a while, and Merry Christmas

to them and their families.

Rec.

mark

[BeGoodDoGood]

3. I was in India Co. 3/24...

On Desert Storm.

We stayed in and around Jubayl from 1 Jan. to Apr. 2, 1991.

That is a reserve battalion. Interesting.

Walt

[Blue Owl]

4. That's what I like to hear

Can we have more of this in Afghanistan, too?

[tekisui]

5. They have to leave Iraq so they can go to Afghanistan.

[Mari333]

6. how many troops left to protect the oil interests and how many mercenaries we paying

thats what I want to see.