2,500 Marines Face Involuntary Recall

Call-Up Spurred By Shortage Of Volunteers For Duty In Iraq, Afghanistan

(CBS/AP)  The U.S. Marine Corps is preparing to order thousands of its troops to active duty in the first involuntary recall since the early days of the war.

Up to 2,500 Marines will be brought back at a time, and there is no cap on the total number who may be forced back into service as the military helps fight the war on terror. The call-ups will begin in the next several months.

The number of troops in Iraq has climbed back to 138,000 — the prevailing number for much of last year. Troop levels had been declining this year, to a low of about 127,000, amid growing calls from Congress and the public for a phased withdrawal. Escalating violence in Baghdad has led military leaders to increase the U.S. presence there.

This is the first time the Marines have had to use the involuntary recall since the beginning of the Iraq combat. The Army, meanwhile, has issued orders recalling about 10,000 soldiers so far, but many of those may be granted exemptions.

Marine Col. Guy A. Stratton, head of the manpower mobilization section, estimated there is a shortfall of about 1,200 Marines needed to fill positions in upcoming deployments.

"Since this is going to be a long war," said Stratton, "we thought it was judicious and prudent at this time to be able to use a relatively small portion of those Marines to help us augment our units." Some of the military needs, he said, include engineers, intelligence, military police and communications.

As of Tuesday, nearly 22,000 of the 138,000 troops in Iraq were Marines.

The call-up will affect Marines in the Individual Ready Reserve, a segment of the reserves that consists mainly of those who have left active duty but still have time remaining on their eight-year military obligations.

Generally, Marines enlist for four years, then serve the other four years either in the regular Reserves, where they are paid and train periodically, or in the Individual Ready Reserve. Marines in the IRR are obligated to report only one day a year but can be involuntarily recalled to active duty.

To date, about 5,000 Army IRR soldiers have mobilized, and about 2,200 of those are currently serving, according to Lt. Col. Bryan Hilferty, an Army spokesman. Of those 2,200, about 16 percent are volunteers, he said. A typical Army enlistment obligation is also for eight years.

According to Stratton, there are about 59,000 Marines in the IRR, but the Corps has decided to exempt from the call-up those who are either in their first year or last year of reserve status. As a result, the pool of available Marines is about 35,000.

The deployments can last up to two years, but on average would be 12 to 18 months, Stratton said. Each Marine who is being recalled will get five months to prepare before having to report.

President Bush authorized the recall on July 26. It is the first such recall since early 2003, when about 2,000 Marines were involuntarily activated for the initial ground war in Iraq.

The call-up comes as a new CBS News/New York Times poll shows that the public has an increasingly dim view of the war.

Terrorism now tops the list of issues that most concern Americans and Mr. Bush has gotten a small boost in approval of his handling of the terror threat. But two out of three Americans still give Mr. Bush a low score on handling Iraq, and more people than ever, 62 percent, say the war is going badly, even though the president has been passionate in explaining why he believes the U.S. must stay the course.

Mr. Bush is also facing tough criticism and claims that the American people were misled about the war from a key supporter, Republican Sen. John McCain.

McCain, R-Ariz., a supporter of the war and a likely candidate for the GOP nomination for president in 2008, blasted the administration Tuesday for misleading the nation on Iraq, CBS News senior White House correspondent Bill Plante reports.

"I think one of the biggest mistakes we made was underestimating the size of the task and the sacrifice that would be required," said McCain.

And that contributed to the frustration that Americans now feel about the war, said McCain, "because they were led to believe that this would be some kind of a 'day at the beach.'"

[jftothedeath]

Alright. I go to Marine boot camp in about a week. Although I'm not like, "yeah, I get to go to war.." as long as America has a war to fight I'll proudly join in. I want all of you who are calling Bush an idiot to stop.. just stop for one minute and think about this: 9-11. After 9-11 we would have done ANYTHING to go kick some terrorist butt. Sure this how long is dragging and maybe he could have gone about this differently. But at least we have a president who is trying to do something! We complain about the gas prices, but fail to realize it's a small price to pay for what we're doing. Don't you get it? It's a small price to pay! Do it for 9-11!

[jms_cheung]

I guess the daily bombings in Iraq are the results of UNSATISFACTION of the Sunnis/Kurds populace being suppressed by the majority Shiites group in government, military & police.
During Saddam's time, the country was peaceful because the Sunnis are IN CONTROL of the country and SUPPRESS the Islamist terrorists sponsored by nearby Shiites Iran. Today's chaos are largely backed by Iran which has an eye to win over the largely Shiites-government in Irag, so 2 become ONE...then the world will have a FRANKENSTEIN of global Islamist terrorism...and the world will have a bigger problem then !
It's a mistake to blame the Sunnis for the current bombings/chaos in Iraq...the true fact is that Iran is supporting its Shiites militias...to wreak havoc...so the US will go home...then Iran can step in as a honored guest invited by the Shiites-majority Iraqis government. The answer now is to start RECRUITING/TRAINING MORE SUNNIS & KURDIS to dominate the government, military & police forces....kick off Iran like what Saddam did...then there will be a bright tomorrow for all Iraqis!

[jms_cheung]

What the wars in Iraq & Afghanistan need is NOT MORE MARINES...but more `special forces' in civilian clothings like the SWATS team or those of `007 James Bond' calibres...WHY? The simple truth is that the wars there are NOT CONVENTIONAL WARS. We need these special forces to go HUNTING the hideouts/strongholds of these terrorists....then wired HQ to aerial bombast the hell out of them! Send back the marines and bring in these special forces....and I am quite sure US will have almost zero casualty. Another effective way is to RECRUIT young American Iraqis & Afghans or Arabs...who are 100% trustworthy... faithful American patriots...
to be part of this special forces....to move FREELY in enemy's lands...to search for enemy's locations. Does this sound like what the proverb says, `Send a thief to catch a thief' ?

[long_rider]

I am a vet myself, Vietnam. I guess the only problem I have with sending troops over to Iraq is one of direction. What are they suppose to do when they get there? Die?

There has been no discussion with the waring factions in Iraq, what is needed to resolve the internal issues. I asure you more dead Americans is not the answer.

Every time I read about this war it is what Bush wants. The chimp dosen't know anything. The last good person he had on his staff was C. Powell.

We are in another Viet Nam, like it or not.

[loeiram]

What I want to know is why there are men in the military that are "playing" army, etc. but have NEVER been called up.
Some just go to military officers schools to keep from going anywhere and I think that sucks.
Why don't produce a list of ALL military personnel that have NEVER been overseas in war, Desert Storm, Iraq or whereever, then choose from this list FIRST before sending those that have gone again and again.
I think the officers of the military should be the ones setting the example and go and show what they have learned, other than just a title of Major, etc. They keep hidding behind their school classes, to advance for the money they can make, but don't go into war???? I don't get it.
Let's get a list of all military people that have never gone over to Iraq or Desert Storm FIRST before sending out Marines agains.

[tsmcgee]

As a former Marine, I can't think of a better qualified group than other former Marines to be called back into service. I fought in Vietnam and feel the frustration that this new war has presented itself. The trouble with fighting a war to a successful conclusion is to know who our enemy is...the war on terrorism is a war against shadows and we will never be successful until the whole free world joins in to destroy all forms of terrorism. If I was younger, I would gladly take up the call to arms as any Marine would do. Our motto is "Can Do" and these 2500 Marines will do it.

[kortekn]

These recalls are going to affect me more than most. I am currently in that "window" between my 1st and last year of IRR duty and I am a Infantry Communications man, if anyone stands a decent chance to get called it's me and others like me. I am not bitter nor afraid of such a recall, even though I now have a wife and a family. The frustration of it is that the recall is being issued because the job was never completed, in-fighting in our government tied the hands of field commanders and generals that would have used all available resources to get the job done right the first time. Not hem and haw over who to deploy , for how long, etc. I say that if this recall happens and my new life, my family, an excellent career have to be put back on hold, I want the recall to be for more than 2,500 Marines. I want a force to be recalled large enough that the job will once and for all be completed. The war on terror will be ever-lasting, but the war in Iraq does not have to be.
God Bless and Semper Fi.

[emhawks]

Many of you have expressed exactly how I feel about the Marine recall, the Iraq war, Bush, Cheney & Rumsfeld. This all really is not a war on terror, but a war of terror.
Even though our military is all volunteer, they shouldn't be placed carelessly in harm's way for a bloody useless war that is being fought not for the protection of America, but for oil, war profiteering & power/personal gain of Bush/Cheney & individuals within their adm.
Something else to think about:
We have been told by Bush/Cheney that our involvement in Iraq is the greatest struggle this nation has faced in decades, & that this war is vital & necessary for peace & security in the Mid. East & the US. We have been told by Bush/Cheney that sacrifices in this war must be made to make the world safer.
If Bush/Cheney truly believe this (& their statements/speeches clearly indicate they do) I must ask them:
Where is their personal sacrifice? Why aren't their children serving in the military? Why aren't their children in Iraq, or some other type of military support capacity in the Mid. East?
Bush/Cheney have asked thousands of American families to sacrifice their sons, daughters, husbands & wives. But where is their sacrifice to lay upon the altar for this crusade?

[corvette6682]

I am tired of all the references to "the military fights the war on terror". Please call it what it really is......Bush's redemption for his daddy not finishing the job the first time. This "war" will most likely become one of this country's largest presidential scandals of all time, as well it should.

[kannan_cbs]

As the saying goes "You get what you deserve". Thats what this Administration is. The people of America deserve this lousy Administration, which they elected.

[long_rider]

Well here we are, finally a republican says Bush misled Congress and the nation. Another word for misled %u2013 lied. Why isn%u2019t Congress impeaching this idiot?

The only solution to the war in Iraq will have to come from the factions in Iraq. Our presents in Iraq should be nothing more than training, and policing. The only way the U.S. can really help, is to bring all of these factions together and try and iron things out. I don%u2019t think this administration has anyone capable of doing this, nor the desire to do this.

The generals in charge of the war in Iraq have been asking for more men from the beginning, and many retired, and respectable, generals agreed. Our Sec. of Defense said that the troop strength was adequate, this man is a buffoon.

The decisions made by this administration, about Iraq, and Afghanistan, have been nothing but FUBAR.

About Afghanistan %u2013 prior to our arrival, the Taliban destroyed all of the poppy fields; the farmers were converting over to grow wheat. Guess what, the farmers are back to poppy fields now. Why isn%u2019t the news media reporting on this?

[hdreding5]

I agree with the individual that said "This is not a war on terror but a war of terror". I have been saying all along that Bush needs to go fight along side the men and women of the US Military. I bet he would change his tune real quick. Anyone that agrees with this war is a fool. My son is a U S Marine and I am very proud of him for wanting to fight for this country. Talking to him I know the US Government is full of lies. Most of the men and women that return from the war will tell you this war makes no sense. I am not as proud to be an American as I used to be.

[adt301]

This recall is not at all uncommon or surprising. Anyone who is familiar with the military is aware of the possibility of being recalled into service. The marines being recalled knew when they enlisted of this likelihood, and they voluntarily joined anyway. This is their job, it's what they love, and what they want to do.
The facts are we will either fight them on their ground, or we will fight them here at home. You decide America. These people are on a holy mission and have faith so strong they will either suceed or die trying. Personally, I'd rather fight this battle on foreign ground. And if recalling those who voluntarily went into the line of work of protecting and serving the American people is needed to do so, then let them do their job.

[reuben110-2009]

What Iraq and Afghanistan need is not a fantasy, one of the reasons for higher terrorist attacks is American presence in THEIR Land, it gives people whose Loved ones are killed/raped to target Americans whom they have ACCESS to. Terrorist activity is too difficult to pull off in America, so it gives Al Qaeda a more suitable battle field to target Americans. Statisitics such as 186% increase in Oil exports to America from Iraq over the last 18 months are not helping our reputations nor is what is happening to peoples loved ones in Abu Ghuraib.If you read the allegations of some previously church-going soldiers who claim that they have been drugged and feeling a sense of Euphoria after killing Iraqis in letters to their parents leaves a bad taste, lets get our troops home, we do not need James Bond, or Rambo, lets leave that to Hollywood, lets get our troops back, they are losing their mind, and get a party in that people trust, because they sure as hell don't trust us, and rightly so. we need a multi-national force that also comprise of soldiers from some Muslim countries that is what is required. Not Rambo, not 007, not terminator.

[jms_cheung]

What Iraq & Afghanistan need is not more Marines, but specially-trained forces like that of Rambo or SWATS calibres...to go HUNTING DOWN TERRORISTS and their strongholds...then wired for commandos to wipe them out! The wars in Iraq & Afghanistan is not normal conventional wars, but a sort of hit & run /guerillas warfare...thus making the Marines not suitable for such warfare....but ready targets for the terrorists....thus the almsot daily US casualties ! It would be wise for the Bush admistration to RETHINK the present irrelevant strategy ....and send the Marines home...halt the proposed Recall....and train more `special forces' of Rambo or `007 James Bond' calibres...to hunt down and wipe out those terrorists!

[bdpetty1]

We have no one to blame but ourselves! The re-election of George W. Bush is why this is happening! We'll have to live with it until 2008/2009.... The way American's vote is the major problem.................................

[bdpetty1]

We have no one to blame but ourselves! The re-election of George W. Bush is why this is happening! We'll have to live with it until 2008/2009.... The way American's vote is the major problem.................................

[de-Joe]

Not "involuntary recall", but illegal draft. Unless they are being sent to look for WMD's (read atom bombs), each and every one of them should protest through the chain of command and then fill a lawsuit.
I'd like to the day when every serviceperson in Iraq is carrying an entrenching tool. See a camera, start digging. That's why they were sent there.
Joe Chretien a good (though anti-Bush) republican, and former jingo (until Somalia)