National Geographic : Inside Special Forces

PBS, KUAT Tucson ^ | 11/6/03 | Self

[FlyVet]

In 1756, nine companies of American colonists were recruited to fight the British in the French and Indian War. Such units were used occasionally throughout U.S. history, but it was not until the 1960s that the role of Special Forces was formalized by President John F. Kennedy to combat a new type of war by 'guerillas, subversives, insurgents and assassins.' This program follows this highly skilled, elite group of soldiers as they make their way from the home front to the front lines to face an unpredictable enemy in an unfamiliar land. In Stereo (CC)

[FlyVet]

This was on the local PBS station tonight, and it's one of the best National Geographic documentaries I've seen. There is some up close and personal war. At one point, a piece of shrapnel goes whizzing over a cameraman's head.

I couldn't find anything about it on the PBS web site, or here on the Freep, and only this little bit on the local site. Strange.

It covers the history of Special Forces, Iraq, Afghanistan, and there is short interview with Gen. William Boykin. There are some faces that I know I've seen on Diogenesis' "Gotta See This" posts. If you get a chance, it's a must-see.

[TrappedInLiberalHell]

I caught this halfway through. They showed a raid on a building in Iraq that had been occupied by the Secret Police, and the soldiers found sophisticated bombs and airport security detection equipment. And it actually portrayed the troops in a fair and reasonable light, showing how dangerous their work is, and how their image had been tarnished by Vietnam. I didn't catch the name of the program, so I'm glad you posted this.

[donmeaker]

I just taught my 6 year old the Ballad of the Green Berets. I bet her teacher goes wild over that.

Bwa-hahahaha!

[FlyVet]

And it actually portrayed the troops in a fair and reasonable light, showing how dangerous their work is, and how their image had been tarnished by Vietnam.

Yes, it did. It was more than fair, it was downright patriotic. PBS amazes me sometimes. And I can't believe how hard it was to find any information about it on the Internet. There's almost nothing.

[ex-Texan]

Sometimes PBS does brilliant work. They have gifted people. Make me very sad, because there is a severe BBC infection running rampant inside PBS.

[FlyVet]

Morning bump.

[DeepDish]

And when the teacher finally gets used to that, then teach your daughter the fourth stanza of the Star Spangled Banner.

[Vigilantcitizen]

FYI...

[wardaddy]

just heard today about some new uber-secret spec ops outfit that has been formed to work both inside and outside the conventional theatre in the WOT.

[Travis McGee]

Thanks for the ping!

[Travis McGee]

Is there an FR thread on this unit? Any name given, or description of personnel or missions?

[wardaddy]

No thread that I know of.

I can't remember if I heard it on Liddy or somewhere else.

[Travis McGee]

I've read some vague things about CIA/special forces groups called Gray Wolf (for external ops) and Lincoln Gold (internal US ops). And of course there are the ongoing permutations of the army's "intellegence support activity."

[wardaddy]

I hate that I did not hear more on it. I assume that it was on Liddy since I was pulling into work at the time.

[wardaddy]

Task Force 121.....I found it. You probably have already heard about it. I'm behind the curve a bit.

http://www.iht.com/articles/116912.html

[cibco]

I think it is called Unit 121 (?) or something similar. I have caught it on FNC the last few days. Mental block right now.

[cibco]

What you said...

[wardaddy]

I googled it and remembered the deal about the USAF brig and the idea about operating outside of normal theatre and the high convergence of intel and ops.....I'd like to know more but am glad we don't.

Hope it works...

[Yardstick]

Sometimes PBS does brilliant work. They have gifted people. Make me very sad, because there is a severe BBC infection running rampant inside PBS.

You're exactly right. My relationship with PBS is completely love/hate. I love the quality and intelligence of their productions but hate the leftist slant. If they could just manage to be balanced, or something like balanced, or if they were perceptibly trying to be balanced -- then I'd be a true-blue fan. I'd probably even contribute during their fund drives.

[cibco]

Thanks...