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What we most need in this war is intelligence about the organizations and operations of bin Laden and the other Islamists. The records we need to capture may well be stored in one or more of these caves. That needs to be considered in deciding tactics.

What we most need in this war is intelligence about the organizations and operations of bin Laden and the other Islamists. The records we need to capture may well be stored in one or more of these caves. That needs to be considered in deciding tactics. Unfortunately I agree with you. May God protect those who go in after the neccesary intel.

Stay well - stay safe - stay armed - Yorktown

Excellent point about the value of intell, which might be taken from cave strongholds intact. Such intell could provide directions to other cave complexes.

And of course, the forcibly conscripted Taliban POW/defector will be our best fountain of intell. A lot of these "Taliban in name only" were taken at gunpoint after seeing family members killed and sisters raped by the "real Taliban".

When these guys come over to our side, and are given some clean clothes and hot meals and medical treatment for chronic sores and illnesses they all have, they will be gung ho to lead our specops troops straight to the Taliban leadership.

With "our" former Taliban guiding us, the "real Taliban" will not be able to hide, even if they put on filthy rags and try to pass as refugees. We are going to have plenty of "Chieu Hois" or "Kit Carson Scouts" in this war, and they will be decisive if we play it right.

In Viet Nam, (from what I heard from the guys who were there) a SEAL specialty was the fast reaction op based on FRESH intell gained from prisoners and defectors. Intell on current meeting places of VC was acted on before the VC even knew that "old Tran" had been captured. SEALs went back on ops often the very same night or next night after the POW was taken, and made terrific hits.

If our specops troops are allowed to conduct IMMEDIATE follow-up ops based on HOT intell, we will do wonders.

But if the "chain of command" insists on all intell being chewed on for days all up the line before the attacks are conducted, they will find empty caves or (worse) our planes will blow up houses now filled with refugees.

Point is, the HOT intell must be acted on ASAP, and not be allowed to grow cold before permission is granted to launch the next raid, just because 25 REMF officers insist on putting their "chop" on every mission.