Tug-Of-War For Marines

Marine Commandant Gen. James Conway prepares to board a C130 in southern Afghanistan for a visit to remote Marine camps, Dec. 22, 2008.

Gen. James Conway speaks to Marines at a base in southern Afghanistan about the need to boost forces there in the coming months, Dec. 22, 2008.

The U.S. Marine Corps Commandant talks to his commanders at Camp Barber in southern Afghanistan, Dec. 23, 2008.

Gen. Conway steps off a C130 aircraft during a tour of remote Marine bases throughout southern Afghanistan, Dec. 24, 2008.

Marine Corps Commandant, Gen. James Conway talks with his Marines in Farah Province, southern Afghanistan, Dec. 24, 2008. Gen. Conway wants to move about half of the U.S. Marines currently based in Iraq to Afghanistan, where he says they're needed to confront an influx of Islamic militants.

Gen. Conway and Gen. David Petraeus, Commander of the U.S. Central Command, speak at a palace in Baghdad's Green Zone, Dec. 25, 2008. Petraeus has been keen to keep U.S. Marines in Iraq, where they are helping to secure the country's western border with Syria.

U.S. Marine Corps Commandant, Gen. James Conway, serves Christmas dinner to his troops at the TQ Air Field in Iraq, Dec. 25, 2008.

Marines at a remote base near Iraq's western border with Syria rush to hear their Commandant, who has arrived to talk to them about the USMC's future mission in Iraq, or Afghanistan, Dec. 26, 2008.

U.S. Marines prepare to hear from their Commandant, Gen. James Conway, at a remote base near the Syrian border in Iraq, Dec. 26, 2008.

Gen. Conway (center) prepares to address his troops at a remote outpost near the Syrian border, Dec. 26, 2008.