Camp Lejeune, N.C.-? The 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade may be not headed to Iraq as they originally were planning to do, but may instead be re routed and tasked to go to Afghanistan, according to sources in the Pentagon.
The planning for the 2nd MEF is currently underway, and while precise details are not available it is beginning to look like they very may well be headed to Afghanistan at some point later this year. Nothing will be decided for sure until some sort of official decision is made and announced.
?We cannot really speculate at this time,? said Major Eric Dent. Major Dent is the spokesman for the Pentagon, and responded via email to press questions.
?We do not currently have a decision to send additional Marine Forces to Afghanistan, and we are working hard to conduct contingency planning, and if additional forces are required we will be ready,? said Major Dent.
The Commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps, General James Conway has urged for over a year for more U.S. Marines to be assigned to Afghanistan, and it may be that he soon gets his wish.
In the last year the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit and elements of the 2nd battalion, 7th Marines have already been deployed to Afghanistan to deal with a surge of Taliban Forces.