Happy 240th Birthday to the USMC

[Minimalist]

But how many more?

http://www.thefiscaltimes.com/Articles/2...Last-Fight

Why Afghanistan Might Be the Marines’ Last Fight

In this case, small size and budget are working to the Marines disadvantage. They’re not “too big to fail,” and their moribund mission is reflected in a force that hasn’t performed amphibious assaults for 73 years.

This problem became acute during the Afghan war. The Army was conducting the majority of the ground offensives, and Special Forces were performing many of the high-risk missions once performed by Marines. The other military branches were marginalizing them while illustrating just how outdated their core competency had become.