[Cannoneer No. 4]

I don't know MG Kearney, and I don't have any inside knowledge of the inter-service politics involved in standing up MARSOC and then doing them this way, but I can tell you that no O-3 ever made it to O-8 without worrying about "perception." "Perception is reality" when attempting to explain complex subjects to people who don't have the time or the patience to displace their preconceptions with facts. Perception management is one of his Information Operations responsibilities.

Actions to convey and/or deny selected information and indicators to foreign audiences to influence their emotions, motives, and objective reasoning; and to intelligence systems and leaders at all levels to influence official estimates, ultimately resulting in foreign behaviors and official actions favorable to the originator's objectives. In various ways, perception management combines truth projection, operations security, cover, deception, and psychological operations.

[Chgogal]

See Post #82 for the whole email. It is interesting.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1805834/posts?page=82#82

"3. There are those in the Special Operations community who do NOT want the Marine Corps involved as a player, and will use this event and following accusations/actions as an "I told you so." I know this to be a fact because I've been involved with the overall evolution from the very first meetings (Maj Jim Capers, myself and other "old Force Recon Marines" were invited to these meetings chaired by Quantico types looking into USMC involvement in SOF integration)...etc. Most of us have had our reservations about the entry of the Corps into SOF spectrum from the beginning, so we've watched this effort very closely...not listening just to those "singing the school song" on the issue and listening very closely to what others in the SOF community have been saying about not wanting Marines involved...etc. There is ALREADY much talk going on about this w/in the "anti" groups."

[Chgogal]

Well, call me simple, but removing the MARSOC from theater seems like a win for the enemy to me. At least, that is how I perceive it. BTW, thanks for the SP link. It was very interesting.