“Anyway, the Marines aren’t there to shoot at the bad guys, they’re there to hold the bad guys at bay with tear gas and the like.”

Embassy duty may ultimately come to such holding actions, however the daily routine of the embassy guards involves a lot more than shredder practice. While not necessarily deal makers or breakers, the pomp and ceremony of military custom adds great meaning to some diplomatic events, and just as a show of strength can be an asset, so too can the show of restraint be used to advantage by an ambassador.

While the functions do not include interacting with the locals, the fact that the Marine Guard has multiple functions and multiple tasks augments one minor aspect of military and diplomacy working together for common cause. Just my .02.