Global Courant 2023-05-06 09:07:52
The failure of the US Marine Corps to respond to recent crises is inexcusable. The Marines would be “most ready when the nation is least ready.”
Commander of the Marine Corps, General David Berger told a United States congressional committee the other day he had failed the ‘combatant commander’. The United States The Marine Corps was unable to have Marines in position to assist U.S. citizens during the ongoing fighting Sudan and to provide relief after a recent earthquake in Turkey.
But he’s not quite right. He also failed his nation.
The backbone of the Marine Corps’ worldwide rapid response to crises are its three Maritime Expeditionary Units/Amphibious Standby Groups (MEU/ARG) that are constantly “floating” globally. One usually consists of three amphibious ships (the ARG) and a few thousand marines (the MEU) with all their hardware, weapons and aircraft.
They are just as capable of saving lives as they are of taking them.
The MEU that should have been there to respond to Sudan and Turkey was in North Carolina. Thus, it had left the region uncovered.
In that case, the United States flew in a rescue force of Navy divers from Djibouti to evacuate the approximately 75 embassy staff and family members from Khartoum. That was a success.
As for the other thousands American civilians in the Sudan, the US government’s response to shelter or pull yourself out was the equivalent of, “Goodbye, wouldn’t you like to be.”
Crowds of rescuers swell at Sudan’s main seaport. Photo: screengrab from video/westernslopenow.com
Blame the US Navy
The French and British fared better at coming in and assisting. And the Chinese did too. Indeed, Global Times crowed about the Chinese navy‘s efforts to evacuate more than 1,300 Chinese from Sudan – as well as citizens of other countries.
This was a far cry from the days when Americans overseas knew the Marines were coming. And so did the local authorities – or warlords.
Read the commander’s statements and it’s the US Navy that’s to blame, as it hasn’t delivered (or built) enough amphibious ships to transport the Marines.
Make no mistake, the “amphibian navy” is not the blonde kid of the US Navy. Spending money on amphibious ships is only done reluctantly.
But in this case, the Navy could argue with a degree of confusion about what the Marine Corps wanted. A year or two ago, it seemed that the commander and marines simply wanted 30 new light amphibious warships.
The idea was that these ships would be used to transport Marines and supplies to and from their hideouts on islands in the Western Pacific. There they would watch for Chinese ships in case of war.
“Force Design 2030” – the commander’s plan to reshape the Marine Corps – was the primary focus.
General Berger’s judgment was questioned
And anyway, amphibious assaults weren’t something Marines would do anymore. It was old fashioned. And probably not even possible, given today’s constant surveillance by satellites and drones. Not to mention long-range weapons.
A well-informed observer said it makes sense if you believe in:
General Berger’s strategic vision, (which) is to get out of the business of forced amphibious landings. “That is so WWI…. The PLA has missiles you know…. We now have cyber… did well in Wake Island defense…. We are NOT another US military. America doesn’t need ANOTHER air force besides the USAF and Naval Air – too expensive, you know.
Now the commander complains that he doesn’t have enough full-size “amphibians” to conduct operations like Turkey and Sudan. No joke.
General David Berger. Image: Screengrab/YouTube
A retired insider’s perspective
A retired Marine put it this way:
General Berger’s testimony before 30 of those light amphibious warships at $300 million each — which would sail between the islands but withdraw from the (area of operations) in the event of armed conflict — really undermined confidence in his professional military judgment waver.
In the waning days of his office, it just doesn’t resonate when he now claims, “What I meant to say was I really need those full 31 amphib large decks”.
Meanwhile, Beijing gets it
It almost seems as if the commander and his advisers have forgotten what a military service is supposed to do in peacetime. You have to be able to do things that you wouldn’t or couldn’t do in wartime – but that are essential.
Non-combatant evacuation operations – think of Sudan – are the most important. And be like that humanitarian help And disaster relief – think Turkey. To do this, the MEU/ARG, and plenty of them afloat, are a requirement. This requires amphibious ships.
The US Navy doesn’t have enough of it, which means neither do the Marines. And so the MEU (the maritime portion of the amphibious task force) was in North Carolina when the nation needed it in the Mediterranean and East Africa.
It’s humiliating.
The Chinese have their own version of MEU/ARGs ready to use and can assemble three if desired. Soon they will. And China’s navy and marines will provide global coverage – along with the prestige and political influence that come with it. Beijing gets it.
Get your priorities straight
The leadership of the Marine Corps will have to think clearly. This is already being done a little further down the ranks.
And the US Navy also needs to clear its head. Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro recently said that climate change and diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) are the top priorities of the Navy – similar to warfare.
Maybe for him. But not for Americans stuck somewhere with whacked-up locals running around with guns and knives. Or for Americans caught up in one natural disaster. They just want the Marines to show up.
Unwind
Now back to General Berger’s mea culpa.
When a Marine Corps second lieutenant messes up, the only response is, “No excuse, sir.”
He’s lucky if he still has a career.
When a 19-year-old lance corporal driving a two-ton truck to a training ground flips it over and injures Marines, he will likely be court-martialed and jailed.
And when the top Marine Corps officer fails his so-called “Title 10” duties to have the Corps ready to respond?
Most Marines know the answer to that.
Grant Newsham is a retired United States Marine Corps officer and former United States diplomat. He is the author of the book When China Attacks: A Warning for America. This article was first published by JAPAN Forward and is republished with permission.
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