Top Marine Conway: Give troops more time, 'casualties are not that great'

Commandant of the Marine Corps James Conway in Iraq, March, 2003

CAMP FALLOUJA, IRAQ — U.S. Marines fighting in the deserts of western Iraq have a greater need for extra time than extra Marines, the commandant of the Marine Corps said here Tuesday.

"I fear there are two timelines out there," Gen. James T. Conway told an audience of about 2,500 troops gathered in a base chapel. "One is how long it's going to take us to do the job. One is how long the country is going to allow us to do the job. And they're not syncing up."

Americans should be willing to give the military more time, he said, telling the assembled Marines, sailors and soldiers that "I think if people stop and consider that premature removal could have a disastrous effect and cause us to have to return, I think they would work with us."

Separately, Conway said in an interview that although he has written "too many" condolence letters and attended many memorials for Marines killed in action here, "vis-a-vis of what Iraq and Afghanistan represent to the country, the casualties are not that great."

Read the rest at the LA Times

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