By John Q. Hosedrinker 
The Pentagon has ordered the withdrawal of U.S. Marines from Los Angeles, over a month after their deployment on June 9th during protests against the administration’s immigration policies. The Marines, along with the National Guard, were stationed at federal buildings, and their presence drew criticism from local leaders, including Mayor Karen Bass, who called for the removal of all troops. This decision follows an earlier order to reduce the number of National Guard troops. Governor Gavin Newsom, who had sued the federal government over the deployment, welcomed the news but reiterated his call for the remaining National Guard troops to be withdrawn.
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Pentagon withdraws 700 Marines from Los Angeles, and it’s got everyone talking. It’s hard to ignore the presence of military personnel, so the departure, though perhaps subtle, is a significant event. Suddenly, seeing the Marines standing around, seemingly doing nothing, isn’t something you have to drive past anymore.
Speaking of sudden changes, there are some… notable things happening, right? Gas prices in Los Angeles have apparently plummeted. The San Bernardino mountains have even gotten a, shall we say, patriotic renaming. The whole situation has a certain “Mission Accomplished” vibe to it, sarcastic or not. One can’t help but wonder about the cost.
The timing of this withdrawal is interesting, too. It seems to coincide with some… sensitive topics, like the Epstein files. There are questions swirling about the potential redeployment of these Marines. Given the perceived lack of impact while they were deployed in Los Angeles, some people are understandably questioning the cost-effectiveness of the whole operation, not to mention the nature of the mission itself. Was this a costly waste of resources? Did they achieve anything concrete?
This whole deployment is being viewed by some as an overreach, with the implication that the military should never have been used against U.S. citizens in the first place. There’s a feeling that the presence of the Marines was unnecessary, and that their manpower could have been allocated to address other, more pressing issues, like the climate disasters being attributed to Trump.
The general sentiment seems to be one of relief that this chapter is closing. The Marines, in many estimations, didn’t belong there. The feeling is that this was an “illegal occupation” and a “disgrace” that some people are quick to lay at the feet of former President Trump.
The Marines themselves are, of course, professionals. The expectation is they stuck to their core values and followed orders, regardless of the political implications. Their conduct is seen as an example of professionalism, especially by those who trust the military more than local law enforcement.
The deployment might even be seen as a win for the Marines, especially if they adhered to their strict code of conduct and navigated a difficult political situation without incident. This is a good thing, and an honorable trait, especially given the situation. It’s a credit to them.
But the bigger picture is clear. This deployment cost money, and the return on that investment is questioned. There’s also the question of opportunity cost, as in, what *could* that money have done? Were other areas of need neglected, to make up for the expenditure?
It’s hard to ignore the political overtones here, too. Some believe that the deployment was part of a larger strategy, a “sideshow for Trump’s amusement,” possibly intended to create a sense of chaos to justify greater policing powers. If so, it didn’t work. The whole thing is seen as a downward spiral.
The whole episode seems to have a satirical quality to it, something that would fit right in on *The Onion*. The questions remain: Did the Marines receive combat pay? Are they considered veterans? Did they receive a medal for their service?
The bottom line? The Marines are gone, and it’s an end to a rather unusual situation. It’s a moment that invites reflection, and maybe even a little dark humor. This whole scenario might have been another failure for the United States.