According to reports being published on Wednesday, American Marines have moved to Italy in preparation for any potential need to head to Egypt in order to assist in securing the United States Embassy in Cairo as the Egyptian military continues to roll out their armored vehicles into the streets in what appears to be the end of President Mohamed Morsi's tenure. The fast reaction force for rescue missions in Africa has been moved to Sigonella, Italy, for possible action in Egypt, USA Today reported. "This is certainly one of the possibilities of the (task force)," Marine Capt. Eric Flanagan, a spokesman based at the Pentagon, said in an email. "The unit is always on standby with a short tether." The report said that the 500-member Marine unit could be called on to swoop in and help secure the embassy in Cairo. The Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force for Crisis Response was formed after the attack on the US embassy and a CIA outpost in Benghazi, Libya, on Sept. 11, 2012. Four Americans were killed in that attack, including the ambassador. The Egyptian military is currently taking up positions across Cairo and many observers are expecting violence could break out at any moment. BN
