Panicked Pentagon Sends Land Invasion Force to Middle East

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: msn/Daily Beast

53m


As many as 5,000 additional U.S. Marines are heading for the Middle East in a possible escalation of Donald Trump’s war on Iran, according to a report.

Days after Trump appeared to suggest the conflict was “done,” the Pentagon has reportedly agreed to send additional warships and troops to bolster U.S. forces in the region. U.S. administration officials have refused to rule out using boots on the ground to launch an all-out assault on the Iranian regime.

With the two-week air assault failing to bring down the regime and growing pressure from the president’s MAGA base for a quick win, the development suggests the administration is planning a change of strategy to take out Tehran.

The Wall Street Journal has claimed that the newly deployed troops include a Marine expeditionary unit with several warships and a potential landing force of 5,000 Marines. It will be part of an “Amphibious Ready Group,” reports the Journal, based on interviews with three U.S. officials.

Read more: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/panicked-pentagon-sends-land-invasion-force-to-middle-east/ar-AA1Yz975

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WSJ version is a "Live Updates" story that is not permitted in LBN.

[Lovie777]

1. Oh fuck no...................

fuck you congress.

[Irish_Dem]

2. The USA has a congress?

Who knew.

Next you'll be telling me the USA has a court system too.

[angrychair]

3. No way

That's just crazy talk.

[Irish_Dem]

7. Next they'll tell us the US has a Bill of Rights and US Constitution.

Everyone's a comedian these days.

[angrychair]

4. This is insane

I cannot emphasize this enough that once they start sending ground troops our economy will implode. Oil will go to $120+ and the stock market will crash. We have zero resilience built into our economy.

[LiberalArkie]

34. I really do believe that is the point of all this..

[Dave Bowman]

5. A quick win? It will be another quagmire and go on for years.

[LiberalArkie]

35. I thought that the American soldiers would be welcomed with rose petals

[ShazzieB]

51. But of course. /sarcasm

Didn’t W claim that the Iraqis were going to greet the American troops woth parades and stuff, the last time we invaded a Muslim country?

Oh, wait, they didn't do that, did they?

Why do I suddenly feel an overwhelming sense of déjà vu?

[LiberalArkie]

56. Well, Trump is a Republican. I have not found a Republican president who did not start a war.

Even Eisenhower was instrumental in starting the Viet Nam conflict with the "Domino Theory".

[Ponietz]

6. Don't these Bozos realize they're destablizing Pakistan?

Pakistanis have plenty to be pissed about with the U.S. and nukes are as fungible as widgets.
Operation Epstein Fury. Operation Epic Clusterfuck.

[sboatcar]

8. How many ground troops is Israel prepping for the invasion, or did they buy the land war from us too?

[OGBuzz]

15. BiBi will fight to the last American.

[AnnaLee]

9. I knew he hated America

but he REALLY hates America. How can he use young Americans like they are just another bomb that he owns and blow up?

[Jilly_in_VA]

10. Oh FFS!

Vietnam all over again only worse....

[EX500rider]

11. Very unlikely any ground invasion is being planned with only 5,000 troops.

Iran possesses one of the largest armed forces in the Middle East, with approximately 610,000 active-duty personnel and roughly 350,000 reserve/mobilizable personnel.

[popsdenver]

22. If they send in only 5K ground Troops

Expect the U.S. Military Casualties to soar.........But Trump's CABAL don't give a shit, none of their kids will be over there, just like in Viet Nam.......

[Dan]

31. If only 5000 will need 5000 caskets.

[sheshe2]

38. No worries there.

I am sure Jared and the trump boys have that covered. A boy has to make money somehow.

You get a casket. You get a casket. Everybody gets a casket!

[orangecrush]

43. Tip of the spear

[EX500rider]

48. Possible plans maybe to seize some of the islands at the mouth of the Hormuz

But there'd have to be a lot more troops inbound for any mainland conquest

[orangecrush]

57. Agree

[Buddyzbuddy]

12. I have heard Malcom Nance report, no marines were deployed to Iran.

Last edited Fri Mar 13, 2026, 05:27 PM - Edit history (1)

So 5,000 are not additional, they would be the first deployment. How do you invade a country without at least having marines on standby.
Was it wishful thinking or they were concerned about the message it would send? You know, no boots on the ground. Low risk aerial and naval bombardment, only.
Oh, nevermind, Whiskey Pete's in charge along with Commodus guiding his "army".

[Angrybob2001]

27. Loss of institutional expertise

The current conflict highlights the impact of previous administrative policies on the U.S. military. The departure of experienced personnel—whether through forced exits or voluntary resignations—has resulted in a significant loss of strategic expertise.

For decades, the U.S. has maintained the technical capability to strike Iran, provided leadership was willing to accept the resulting consequences. The seasoned professionals who once occupied key roles were essential for providing the intelligence and strategic oversight necessary for high-level decision-making. Ultimately, the complexities of national governance and warfare require a robust support system rather than the oversight of a single individual.

[The Madcap]

28. You spelled it wrongly.

It is Commode-us. As in toilet.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

49. Legend has it the word commode was a play on Commodus

Don't know if that's true or not.

[electric_blue68]

13. JFC!

[IronLionZion]

14. WTF

Are they trying to turn this into another Iraq or Afghanistan before Dems throw them out in the November elections? Congress could put a stop to this idiocy.

[paleotn]

17. Well, if they're banking on that few boots on the ground, this will fail far far faster than Iraq and Afghanistan.

They're facing a highly trained, well equipped and very motivated adversary. Given that, and the geography, this shit has disaster written all over it.

[AleksS]

46. Try this on:

They set the troops up for failure by doing something stupid like only sending 5,000 into a meat grinder.

Democrats win, and everyone loudly hails the massive blue wave in midterms.

The military, set up to fail by Trump, does then fail. Trump blames the Democrats. (Trump: "See, they won, and look at how many troops just died! It's clearly their fault!&quot The voting populace agrees (because they always do) handing the white house back to republicans in 2028.

We've seen this playbook before. It's what they always do.

Remember the Afghanistan withdrawal? Remember Benghazi? Remember the economy every time it tanks?

It's standard GOP operating procedure. Mess things up, let democrats into office just in time for things to hit the crapper, blame the democrats, return to office to triumphantly mess things up again, this time even harder.

[paleotn]

16. 5K Marines? That's it?!!!

No offense to Marines, but that ain't enough to ensure security throughout the Strait. No where nearly enough. That's a hell of a lot of shore line on the Iranian side, plus islands. Going to have to control pretty damn far inland to reduce the drone threat. More half measure bullshit.

[S/V Loner]

18. Nowhere near enough.

5K x 10 wouldn’t be anywhere near enough. Someone needs to explain the them the Law of Holes…
"If you find yourself in a hole, stop digging."

[orangecrush]

44. Hello

https://www.quiverquant.com/news/Army+Cancels+82nd+Airborne+Training+Exercise+as+Iran+Conflict+Escalates%2C+No+Ground+Deployment+Orders+Issued

[paleotn]

45. Not too surprising. But still not enough.

The geography and geology of the Iranian side of the Gulf isn't our friend. It's bushwhack city. If a dumb, former squid like me can see it, it's bad.

[OGBuzz]

19. and Hegseth is on T.V. promising a ruthless war with no mercy....

just before they send in the marines. Helluva message to be sending to the Iranians.

[littlemissmartypants]

24. Stirring the pot for sure. Or maybe a better description...

[Crowman2009]

25. Not the first time Kegsbreath leaked info.

Signal chat being a reminder.

[AllyCat]

20. Legs breath and Pedo are going to get a lot of people killed.

[Fil1957]

21. Here we go again. This is how "forever" wars start. I though DJT said --- never mind!

[flashman13]

23. If you want a detailed picture of what's going on, watch Nance's Day 14 video.

Any attempt to land ground forces will be a massacre. The Iranians have been planning for this for many decades. Hogsbreath and Barron must go in the first (and likely last) wave.

[Bayard]

50. Bookmarking to watch tomor.

[Blues Heron]

26. Straight into the meat grinder to protect a pedophile

[Srkdqltr]

29. Is there a chance that our leaders invisioned the Iranians would have ground troops on camels with swords?

No, that can't be.

[bluestarone]

30. Guessing here that 5000 Marine troops to stop EPSTEIN investigations!!

They don't care how many die. They will lie AGAIN about Casualties and or deaths!!

[Alpeduez21]

32. 5000 troops guarantees killed US troops

US soldiers being killed means we have to escalate our presence. It’s a sacrificial move to justify a broader deployment. Just my two cents

[twodogsbarking]

33. But we already won, didn't we?

[LaMouffette]

36. Let me guess: Just before this was announced Eric and Don Jr. bought up shares in a casket manufacturing corporation.

And how nice it was of Hegseth to announce to the world: "No stupid rules of engagement."

I'm heartsick for our Marines and all of our service members over there.

[sakabatou]

39. And they'll keep parroting it's not a war

[hibbing]

40. "Panicked Pentagon" certainly a confidence builder n/t

[LudwigPastorius]

41. I respect and appreciate our Marines' abilities, but if Trump is considering going into Iran,...

he's going to need 100 times that many troops to do it right.

He's just throwing shit against a wall and has NEVER had a plan. This is what gets U.S. forces killed.

[AverageOldGuy]

42. Here's the problem:

If you have the troops available, you are more likely to use them.

Last week I saw a report that the Dover Air Force Base mortuary was emergency hiring a number of "personal effects specialists." Their job is to sort through the personal effects of dead soldiers returned from overseas -- clean, launder, fold, sort, photograph, catalog, prepare personal effects to send them back to the families.

Trump and Hogsbreath knew weeks ago they were going to send in ground forces. It's the old adage: Amateurs talk tactics, professionals talk logistics. Trump and Hogsbreath are rank amateurs. Stupid amateurs at that. Those two ignorant muthahfukahs think all they have to do is wave 5,000 young Marines at Iran and the Iranians will beg for unconditional surrender.

You can't land 5,000 young jarheads without following up immediately with artillery, fuel, tanks, armored troop carriers, water, food, ammo, trucks trucks and more trucks, and on and on and on -- did I mention fuel, water, ammo, food, trucks and more trucks, ammo, artillery, more ammo . . . . . And body bags -- lots of body bags.

Excuse me -- not "body bag" -- Human Remains Pouch -- lots of them

?c=2

[Ford_Prefect]

47. There is No place where 5000 troops could do ANYTHING useful except defending bases.

The Iranian army is enormous, experienced and capable. Even 10,0000 troops couldn't do more than make a painful dent. Either way we only do more death, damage, and wasted billions.
There us no strategic or tactical value for boots on the ground in the lie that is this war.

AND Congress should be screaming at the top of their lungs!

Why the he'll isn't that happening????????

[Deminpenn]

52. From the OP "The Pentagon agreed..."

With whom, exactly, did the Pentagon reach this agreement? They wouldn't "agree" with Trump, as CinC, he gives orders, not requests.

So, was it Israel? Saudi Arabia? Qatar? UAE? Other Gulf countries? All or some of the above?

And, I heard on MSNOW last night that some European countries are now trying to cut their own seperate deals with Iran for safe passage of their ships through the Strait of Hormuz.

[Blasphemer]

53. Mission Accomplished eh? nt

[Skittles]

54. decisions being made based on pressure from MAGAts

what could POSSBILY go wrong

[Botany]

55. Russian satellites will pin point where the Marines will be going to and or deployed at.

And they will be targets of drones, missiles, artillery, planes, and suicide attacks.

Why not send Trump’s ICE agents instead?

[BumRushDaShow]

58. "they will be targets of drones, missiles, artillery, planes, and suicide attacks."

Looks like that strategy was tested out in Saudi, taking out FIVE of our refueling planes!!!

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143632240

The GOP ARE IDIOTS!

[Botany]

59. When we had a real President called a Joe Biden we provided Ukraine with satellite information

I believe that the Europeans are doing that now. American Military assets in and around Iran are
now all targets for the Iranians and you can be sure that Russia has eyeballs on them and Iran is
getting that information.

[BumRushDaShow]

60. Exactly

That fuel plane hit was all Russia-assisted.