U.S. military can't conduct amphibious operations in the Pacific

[W.G.Ewald]

The Navy and Marines do not have enough assets to carry out a contested amphibious operation in the Pacific if a crisis arises, the top commander of U.S. forces in the region told lawmakers Tuesday.

As the war in Afghanistan winds down, Marine Corps leaders want the service to return to its roots of being a force that can attack enemies from the sea, as the Marines did frequently during World War II. But Adm. Samuel Locklear III, commander of U.S. Pacific Command, said that capability does not presently exist in his area of responsibility.

Commander: U.S. military can't conduct amphibious operations in the Pacific - News - Stripes

Strange to me that Marines were sent to Afghanistan in the first place.