[SBprone]

Your analogy is compelling. One of the worst things that can happen in my community is for the SWAT guys to show up when they are not needed and then slip the leash. Still, when you need them you really need them.

It's the command leadership that must decide who to use and when. When they send in the wrong folks they should be held to account. If they wind up with egg on their faces and try to pass blame to subordinates they should be relieved.

[RANGERAIRBORNE]

Of course, no analogy is perfect- but from experience, I can say that this one is pretty close (of course, in some situations the Specials Forces unit may also act as the "SWAT" Team...)

There is a tremendous incentive for large units to be put in, when the situation on the ground actually calls for a more low-key approach. Careers are made by even brief combat experience, and the awards and decorations that go with it. Everyone wants to get in on the action, and it takes a very wise senior Commander to keep these turf battles from happening.

That said, I don't think NEWSWEEK is the right place to hash all of this out.

This is going to be an "intelligence war", and we have already found to our sorrow that the gee-whiz NSA eavesdropping on every form of electronic communication in the world is NOT enough. We need people who can go into some very rough neighborhoods, live with the people there, and be trusted by them. That is our biggest need right now, and probably for years to come. The 82nd is very good at what they do, but their efforts need to be guided by the best intelligence information that can be gotten. (And don't tell me that they have their own Military Intelligence capability- it is not suited to this type of war. It is OK if they are facing large enemy regular military forces, with identifiable headquarters, supply depots, etc).