A force of 25,000 U.S. Marines that will take over the dangerous Falluja area of Iraq from the Army’s 82nd Airborne Division in March is preparing to both win the cooperation of Iraqis and fight insurgents, the Marine Corps commandant said on Wednesday. Gen. Michael Hagee said Marines were historically better prepared to fight “small wars” than the Army and will put troops everywhere around Falluja, west of Baghdad, to seek friendship with the population while watching for deadly explosive devices. “They know that the most lethal, dangerous weapons system on any battlefield is the United States Marine armed — and that is one of the things that we will bring,” Hagee told reporters. Explosive devices have killed dozens of the more than 500 U.S. troops who have died in Iraq since last year’s invasion. Many have been remotely exploded in and near Falluja in the Sunni Triangle area, a hotbed of anti-American activity and the one-time power base of toppled President Saddam Hussein. Full Story
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