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Troop Deployment  –  US  Marines  –  Afghanistan  Policy  Review  –   March  2009 President  Obama  speaks  to  US  Marines  at  Camp  Lejeune: the troop reductions in Iraq  and the increases in Afghanistan Edited  excerpts  of  an  article  first  published  by  the  Christian  Science  Monitor    [1] US  soldiers,  sailors,  airmen,  &  Marines  –  are  already  serving  in  Iraq  &  Afghanistan  Current  activity  of  US  Marines  includes:   • Camp  Lejeune  Marines  now  serving  with   (or about  to join  up  with )  the  ' 2nd  Marine   Expeditionary Force '  now  operating  in  Iraq  • those  with  the  ' Special  Purpose Marine   Air - Ground  Task  Force '  now  serving  in   Afghanistan  • those among the almost  8,000  US  Marines   who are preparing  to deploy to Afghanistan Semper fidelis  means always being faithful  to your Corps,  and to your country,  and to the memory of  fallen comrades, like Corporal Jonathan Yale and  Lance Corporal  Jordan Haerter. These  two  young  men  enlisted  in  a  time  of  war,  knowing  that  they  would  face  great danger.  They  came  here,  to  Camp  Lejeune,  in order to train  for their  mission.  Last  April, they  were  standing  guard  in Anbar Province, Iraq.  In  an age  when  suicide  has become a weapon,  they  were  suddenly  faced  with  an  oncoming  truck,  filled  with  high  explosives. These  two  Marines  stood  their  ground.  They  opened  fire.  They   stopped   that  truck. When  the  thousands  of  pounds  of  explosives  detonated,  they  had  saved  50  Marines and  Iraqi  policemen  who  would  have  been  in  the  path  of  the  truck.  But  Corporal Yale and  Lance  Corporal  Haerter  lost  their  lives.  Jonathan  was  21-years-old.  Jordan  was  19. Each  of  you  has  your  own  story.  And  that  story  is  now  a  part  of  the  history  of  the United  States of  America  –  a  nation  that  exists only  because  free men and women  have bled for it  –  from the  beaches of  Normandy to the deserts of Anbar  –  from the mountains of  Korea to the streets of  Kandahar.  You have taught us that the price of  freedom is  great. Your  sacrifice  should  challenge all of  us to ask:  What  can  we  do  to  be  better  citizens ? The  United  States  will  begin  to  pursue  a  new  strategy  in  Iraq  and  in  Afghanistan On  my  first  full  day  as  president,  I  directed  my  national  security  team  to  undertake a review of  US strategy  in  Iraq. [ The  goal  was ]  to determine  the best  way  to  strengthen the  foundation  [ that  has  been  laid  down  for  the  future  of  Iraq ]  while  strengthening US  national  security.  Today,  I  can  announce  that  this  strategic  review  is  complete. What we will not do is let the 'pursuit of  the perfect' stand in the way of  achievable  goals. We cannot rid Iraq of all who oppose the US, or sympathize with our adversaries. We can't police Iraq's streets until they are completely safe,  nor stay until  Iraq's union is perfected. We cannot sustain indefinitely a commitment that has put a strain on our military,  and will cost the American people nearly a trillion dollars. America's men and women in uniform have fought block by block,  province by province, year after year,  to give the Iraqis this chance to choose a better future. The relative peace and the strong participation in January's provincial elections sent a powerful message to the world about how far Iraqis have come in pursuing their goals through political means. I have  listened to my  Secretary of  Defense,  the Joint Chiefs of  Staff,  and  commanders. We  have  acted  with  full  consideration  of  events on the ground  and  with  respect  for the security agreements  between  the United  States and  Iraq.  [ We  recognize ]  that  the long - term  solutions  in  Iraq  must  be  political,  not  military.  Now,  the  most  important decisions  that  have  to  be  made  about  the  future  of  Iraq  must  be  made  by  Iraqis. General  Petraeus  and  General  Odierno  have  helped  develop  the  new  military  strategy The first part of our strategy is the responsible removal of our combat brigades from Iraq. As a candidate for President,  I put forward a timeline of  sixteen (16)  months to carry out this drawdown. [ But I also  pledged ]  to consult closely  with  military commanders upon taking office to ensure  that  we  preserve  the  gains  made and that we protect our troops. Those consultations are now complete, and I have chosen a timeline that will remove our combat brigades over the next eighteen  (18)  months.  After  removing  combat  brigades, our mission will change from combat  to support for the Iraqi government and its security forces as they take the absolute lead in securing their country. The  US  will  retain  a  transitional  force  to  carry  out  three  (3)  distinct  functions:       a)  training,  equipping,  and  advising  Iraqi  security  forces       b)  conducting  targeted  counter-terrorism  missions       c)  protecting  our  ongoing  civilian  and  military  efforts  within  Iraq This force will likely be made up of  35,000 to 50,000 troops. The Status of  Forces Agreement with  the Iraqi government [ means  that ]  all  US troops will be removed  by the end  of  2011. For  Afghanistan,  there  are  many  lessons  to  be  learned  from  our  experiences  in  Iraq We need a smarter, more sustainable, more comprehensive approach.  That is why we are refocusing on al Qaeda  in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Every nation and every group must know  –  whether you wish America good or ill  –  that the end of the war in Iraq will enable a new era of American leadership and engagement in the Middle East [ and Central Asia ]. We have learned that  America  must  go to war  with clearly defined goals,  which  is why I've  ordered  a review  of  US  strategy  in  Afghanistan.  We  have  learned  that  we  must always  weigh  the costs of  military action,  and reveal those costs to the American people, which  is  why  I've  put  the operational  costs of  Iraq  and  Afghanistan  into  my  budget. The starting point for our policies must always be the safety of the American people. I know that you – the men and women of  the finest fighting force in the history of  the world – can meet any challenge,  and defeat any foe.  And  as long as  I am your  Commander - in - Chief, I promise you  that  I will only send you  into harm's way  when  it  is  absolutely  necessary. [ Your  country  will ]   provide  you  with  the  equipment  and  support  you  need  to get the job done.  That is the  most important  lesson  of  all  –  for  the consequences of  war  are dire  –  the  sacrifices  immeasurable. There will be more danger in the months ahead. We will face new tests and unforeseen trials. But thanks to the sacrifices of those who have served, we have forged hard-earned progress, we are leaving Iraq to its people.  [ In total,  17,000  US  troops are  headed  for  Afghanistan.] [1]  Article  title:  ' President  Obama  lays  out  his  plans  for  Iraq  withdrawal '.  [ Speech ]        First  published  online  by  Christian  Science  Monitor,  27  February  2009.