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To: Arthur Wildfire! March
Air Force Spec Ops did more in the early phases of the war than any other Spec Ops. Early on, it was AF Forward Air Controllers calling in the air strikes. The Green Berrets were organizing the resistance. CIA operatives were probably directing the whole thing and telling everyone else where to go.
9 posted on 12/24/2001 7:49:43 AM PST by NeonKnight
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To: NeonKnight
I didn't want to get into too many specifics. But what the heck. We can't keep our mouths shut forever.

Of course, like you said, the CIA and Air Force were gathering a ton of information, which was sent to tacticians for planning, and then the Green Baret got contacted. And the eyes are absoultely critical.

But being on the field, and talking with the NA as well as our tacticians, the Green Baret was the hub of the ground force wheel. And God only knows when there is some immediate opportunity or crisis on the field with a minute time window that requires one or two highly trained specialists.... Of course, language skills etc. are emphasised a lot more with the Baret than with other special forces. Communication, problem solving. Other forces are more hands on.

But all things considered, you have to be fairly good at everything to be a green baret. Different languages are an absolute must. Tactics. Personal combat. A little in commando. A lot in defense networks, which means you have to understand basic construction. Weapons, explosives, and vehicles from various nations-- not just US. Logistics. A lot in training and leadership. Basic medicine and surgery. Also, a lot of diplomacy.

Too much for any one man. You can't expect them to simply relay messages because they have to understand the concepts during operations so that plans can be delivered, understood, modified, and elaborated on quickly.

When the UN neutered us and made it impractical to use Green Baret, it made something like our Taliban operation impossible. We would have had to send lots of US soldiers in there, instead. We still would have won, but not as well.

15 posted on 12/24/2001 9:23:09 PM PST by Arthur Wildfire! March
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