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1 posted on 09/29/2002 8:19:23 AM PDT by Brian Mosely
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To: Brian Mosely
Newsweak.
2 posted on 09/29/2002 8:26:30 AM PDT by b4its2late
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To: Brian Mosely
" Newsweek has not seen the document, but sources say..."

That is enough for me to believe it is BS
3 posted on 09/29/2002 8:26:47 AM PDT by jbstrick
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To: Brian Mosely; rdb3
Pingerootus - the 82nd needed some Freeperesque leadership?
5 posted on 09/29/2002 8:29:43 AM PDT by ErnBatavia
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To: Brian Mosely
So we are mistaken and the Afghans were not... right, and Islam is the religion of peace within which terrorism and islamist illnesses do not breed either....
6 posted on 09/29/2002 8:32:27 AM PDT by lavaroise
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To: Brian Mosely
This has the ring of truth to me- and I am former S.F., but have worked with units of the 82nd at times.

There are HUGE differences in the approach taken to this sort of mission by Special Forces as opposed to the regular Army way. That is exactly why S.F. EXISTS! To be able to go into an area in small teams composed of very competent and mature individuals, EARN the trust of the people there, and develop good intelligence and possibly train and arm some paramilitary forces.

The "overwhelming force", kick-in-the-door, "grab-em-by-the-nuts and their hearts and minds will follow" approach is appropriate in some situations- probably not in this one.

This mistrust of unconventional forces has a long history in the U.S. Army, and it is not going away anytime soon. What we will need is better senior leadership, so that each element is used when and where it is needed, and people are not put on the ground just to get their "combat patch" tickets punched.

9 posted on 09/29/2002 8:45:25 AM PDT by RANGERAIRBORNE
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To: Brian Mosely
Here's a link to the original story: On the Front Lines with U.S. Special Forces.

Who knows what the absolute truth is. The article is clearly biased for the Special Forces and against the 82nd. Afghanistan has become a classic guerrilla conflict: a largely invisible enemy vs. a very visible army overlayed on an indifferent population. How do you win a guerrilla war like this?

11 posted on 09/29/2002 8:58:39 AM PDT by mikegi
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To: Brian Mosely
SF and SEAL are highly regarded and specialized. They need to run the show. End of story. Paratroopers, like the 82nd, should only be deployed to the extent guerillas have been identified and are operating in a specific area.

I think there is some truth in this article, but I don't believe most of what is being floated by the media at this stage.

18 posted on 09/29/2002 10:07:37 AM PDT by Aura Of The Blade
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