Special forces wage war by stealth

The Australian ^ | 14th October 2006 | Greg Sheridan

[naturalman1975]

A SMALL team of about 20 Australian Special Air Service soldiers has been helping track down Abu Sayyaf and Jemaah Islamiah terrorists in the southern Philippines.

The soldiers have been notionally in joint patrols with Filipino military personnel but in truth the Australians are leading the efforts they are involved with.

For the past couple of months a spasmodically ferocious effort has been waged in Mindanao, in particular on the island of Jolo, to eradicate the ASG, an al-Qa'ida affiliated terror group of extreme violence and cruelty.

The SAS campaign is the nearest the Australian special forces have come to direct combat operations in Southeast Asia since the Vietnam War. The SAS was involved in East Timor but that was peace-keeping rather than combat.

Under The Philippines' constitution, foreign forces are not allowed to have permanent bases or engage in direct combat on Philippines' soil. This has hampered the US, which has the broadest and deepest military relationship with The Philippines.

However, the US and the Armed Forces of the Philippines get around this restriction by having the US provide training and logistical support. As one official puts it, this means the US locates the enemy, transports the Filipino soldiers to the enemy, loads and cocks the rifle and invites the Filipinos to fire. It is a universal judgment that the Filipino forces are much more effective when accompanied by Americans.

According to reliable sources there are about 100 US special forces soldiers involved in the campaign against the ASG, centred on Jolo. This includes Green Berets, Navy SEALS and CIA counter-terrorist forces.

[Steely Tom]

Well, I certainly hope the ASG members are offered free medical care and access to their choice of competent legal aid. Before the SAS slits their throats.

[ASA Vet]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1719098/posts

[Fatuncle]

By preference, these services are offered after the SAS slits their throats. Much cheaper, and you would not believe the reduction in the paperwork.

[verum ago]

Well, I certainly hope the ASG members are offered free medical care and access to their choice of competent legal aid. Before the SAS slits their throats.

Yeah, competent legal aid would realize the hopelessness of his client's situation and say "well, Sayyid, you're pretty much f******" before tossing a soldier a knife and saying "He's all yours, Nigel."

[Rb ver. 2.0]

Bump.

[bannie]

Under The Philippines' constitution, foreign forces are not allowed to have permanent bases or engage in direct combat on Philippines' soil.

Don't they only exist because we saved their fannies? >:6