The Torch: Marines operational under ISAF

Two stories (note the Marines' public affairs work, at end):

1) US marines say they have begun operations in Afghanistan

More than 2,000 US marines recently deployed in Afghanistan to support a NATO-led military campaign against Islamic rebels have began operations in the country's restive south, the unit said Thursday.

The 2,300-strong US Marine Expeditionary Unit was part of Washington's recent contribution to the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) efforts to quell a resurgent Taliban insurgency.

"The last of the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit's Marines and Sailors are arriving and the unit is beginning operations after weeks of flowing personnel and equipment here," the unit said in a statement.

"The Marines have begun their operations in (southern Afghanistan) in support of and with their Afghanistan international partners," it said, referring to ISAF forces deployed there...

The Marine force can "conduct full-spectrum operations from humanitarian assistance missions to combat operations," the statement said...

2) U.S. marines in Kandahar will follow same rules as Canadians: Hillier

U.S. marines heading for southern Afghanistan to bolster battle-hardened Canadian troops will operate under the same NATO command and rules of engagement as their Canadian counterparts, Canada's chief of defence staff told MPs on Thursday.

Gen. Rick Hillier made the comments as he appeared in Ottawa before the Commons foreign affairs committee hearing on the Afghanistan mission. He was responding to questions from New Democrat Paul Dewar on whether the marines would "dance to their own drummer" in Kandahar province.

"When you look at the marines and how they operate in the field, many would suggest that it's very different than what we do," Dewar said [read this to see how some Marines operated in Iraq]. "They usually don't take commands from other countries."

Dewar, whose party has opposed the extension of Canada's mission in Afghanistan, also expressed concern that the U.S. forces would rely more on air strikes than Canadian troops would and potentially cause greater civilian casualties.

But Hillier disagreed with the assessment of the marines' tactics, saying they are fully aware that any civilian casualties caused by NATO forces undermine support for the mission among Afghans and give fuel to Taliban recruiting efforts.

"We know what the winning conditions must be," Hillier responded. "They're professional soldiers. We know that from our perspective."

NATO recently came up with reinforcements as well as extra equipment for Canadians in Kandahar province in a move that secured the Canadian military and development presence in the region.

There are currently two military operations in Afghanistan: the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force, and the U.S.-led Operation Enduring Freedom Afghanistan mission.

Liberal foreign affairs critic Bob Rae asked the general whether the marines would operate under the same "philosophy" as Canadian forces in Kandahar.

"They are coming in to work for the ISAF mission, which means they work under the NATO rules of engagement," Hillier replied.

The general also gave a cautious assessment of the insurgency on the ground in Kandahar, saying the progress in normalizing the region has been hindered by the absence of international aid groups, which largely abandoned Kandahar in 2006 when fighting escalated.

"The direct threat is still very real," Hillier said. "The mission continues in a positive direction but that threat remains high, especially in the south of Afghanistan and especially, from our perspective, in the west and north of Kandahar city itself."..

I do wonder myself how real will be the Marines' subordination to Canadian Maj.-Gen. Lessard, commander RC South. This is from the 24th MEU press release mentioned in 1) above:

...
The 2,300-strong unit is conducting operations in support of NATO’s International Security Assistance Force. The MEU will be employed as a Theater Tactical Force, a position which allows the commander of ISAF [emphasis added--who will continue to be American--note no mention of commander, RC South] to rapidly deploy the MEU wherever it’s needed to conduct full-spectrum operations from humanitarian assistance missions to combat operations.

Yesterday the ISAF-Marines conducted two successful missions in two different provinces.

First, Marine AV-8B Harrier jet fighters provided close air support to ISAF’s Task Force Zabul troops during an engagement with insurgents in the area.

Later in the day, infantry Marines joined other ISAF Forces in conducting patrols around Kandahar.

There's lots more about the Marines at Kandahar at the 24th MEU's official website, including this slide show with text--rather more open than the CF, I'd say.: