True to form in the final episode of Generation Kill, Recon 1 was much ado about nothing. This was a 21 day mission not meant for "Recon" of any sort as standard by the nomenclature of the marine division, but rather a spearhead push to drive through and escort an assortment of "highers" and others to their final destinations.
It was a political move for the Generals and Stars and Bars to get into positions and feel out the sandbox. A few firefights here and there, but really the grunts on the ground doing most of the clearings, and making a path through and into Baghdad was the Army.
Of course a Marine doesn't want to hear that. There is an infighting between branches of the military that goes back for many years. Childish of course, but lets not disrupt tradition with reality.
Of course after the initial ground war started the Marines did take Fallujah, so they did have a section of Iraq to claim as a battled sector with the "Marine" name attached. However, the Army took Baghdad, and many other places.
Overall, when the reporter confronted the Godfather with the issues about Capt America, the Godfather dismissed it all too easy with a blanket statement of how tough it is to be certain that what is reported to him is accurate or not, and if he was to go on the word of each complaint made about his "Command elements" then my oh my he wouldnt have a command element now would he.
I guess Capt America has to get american soldiers KILLED before Godfather would actually find it appropriate to do anything, since Capt America makes sure everyone knows he has a "full bird COL" as a family member in SENTCOM. Oh yea, quake in your shoes, because everything after Major is a politician really. So if ole Full Bird says keep my nephew in the Unit, well regardless that he is a bumbling idiot, squallbag, and NOT fit for command, he stays right?
This series basically did do one thing. It showed how our fighting men in uniform have to deal with poor leaders above Major, and there is really NOTHING they can do about it, except do their job, BLEED and worse case, DIE because of poor decisions.
OORAH Marines. You do your best, even when given the worst.