*EPF305 05/26/2004
Marines Rolling Up Terrorist Networks In Iraq, Navy Secretary Says
(Gordon England stresses global reach of naval forces during Press Club luncheon) (630)

By Jim Fisher-Thompson
Washington File Staff Writer

Washington -- Marine combat troops, aviators and support personnel are helping to "roll up" terrorist networks in Iraq making it easier for a new homegrown government to ensure stability down the road, says Navy Secretary Gordon England within whose department the Marine Corps operates.

At the same time, England told a May 26 National Press Club (NPC) luncheon, the U.S. Navy -- its ships and special operations forces -- will continue to fight terrorism abroad and provide security for the world's sea lanes through a more expanded use of aircraft carriers worldwide.

The official shared the NPC dais with Marine Brigadier General Mary Ann Krusa-Dossin, head of the Marine Corps' office of public affairs, and Ed Alvarez, former naval aviator shot down over North Vietnam and held captive for more than seven years, part of the time in the notorious "Hanoi Hilton" POW camp.

England told his audience that U.S. Marines in Iraq were making inroads battling criminals, jihadists (radical Islamic fundamentalists) and backers of the former Baathist regime, who are working to undermine peace through terrorist acts because "to each of them destabilization works in their short-term favor."

He added, "The bright side is these [terrorist] networks are having some difficulties getting traction [popularity] among the Iraqi populace, and the networks are being rolled up. The Marines and Iraqi security forces working together have apprehended 27 of the 28 named targets. It seems that for now the fight against the networks is being won. The fight for the trust and acceptance by the general Iraqi population is more difficult. That's still to be determined, but with a cautiously optimistic outlook."

On the Iraqi side, England said, "The [new] Iraqi brigade is manning the checkpoints around Fallujah and also patrolling the streets in Fallujah. The Marines are in support but it's definitely an Iraqi operation." One result of "the Marines empowering the Iraqis" to defend themselves, England said, "has been a decline of in the number of attacks on coalition forces."

England, who visited Iraq the previous week, noted "I am certainly a novice in this game of international politics but based on this recent exposure the objective to transition sovereignty to the Iraqis on June 30 certainly appears right on target."

Looking beyond Iraq toward global operations, England said the U.S. Navy would continue to provide security of the sea lanes, guarding against terrorism and piracy, which he said was a growing phenomenon. At the same time aircraft carriers used "for coalition operations with our friends and allies around the world" will be increased to seven this summer. The U.S. Navy currently has 12 carriers in service.

The official said, "The ability to push that type of military capability to the four corners of the world is quite remarkable and it's also quite recent. Several years ago we could deploy only two [carriers overseas] but times have changed and so have we."

According to England, this series of deployments will demonstrate "a new approach to operations and maintenance" that will employ "one of the many benefits adherent to navies, their ability to deter or dissuade [aggression]" by protecting "the lifeline of our global economy, the oceans of the world.

"In a time of crisis the ability to ����surge' [rapidly deploy] our carriers gives the President options that do not depend on access rights or bases ashore," England explained. Instead the ships and the devastating airpower they transport would be stationed "around the world, on call, not needing a permission slip to protect or dissuade and defeat [an enemy] if necessary. That's what your [modern] navy is all about."

(The Washington File is a product of the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

Return to Public File Main Page

Return to Public Table of Contents