It will be interesting to see how this request turns out:

The Marine Corps is pressing to remove its forces from Iraq and to send marines instead to Afghanistan, to take over the leading role in combat there, according to senior military and Pentagon officials.

The idea by the Marine Corps commandant would effectively leave the Iraq war in the hands of the Army while giving the Marines a prominent new role in Afghanistan, under overall NATO command.

The suggestion was raised in a session last week convened by Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates for the Joint Chiefs of Staff and regional war-fighting commanders. While still under review, its supporters, including some in the Army, argue that a realignment could allow the Army and Marines each to operate more efficiently in sustaining troop levels for two wars that have put a strain on their forces.  [Thom Shanker - NY Times]

The New York Times of course offers a theory of a power struggle inside the Pentagon, but I think the most likely reason is that the Marines are no longer in the fight in Iraq as Anbar Province has largely been pacified.  Marines don’t do peacekeeping and that is what they are doing in Iraq right now.  There is still plenty of fighting to be done in Afghanistan and that is where the Marines want to be. 

Speaking of fighting, there is going to be a whole lot more of it in Afghanistan if the State Department has their way.  

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