Posted on 03/28/2007 5:52:56 PM PDT by SevenMinusOne
Elite Terrorist Hunters in Iraq U.S. "black" special operations forces in Iraq have conducted as many as 300 "takedown" operations, an activity that an influential retired general calls "simply magic."
McCaffrey's report is covered today in The Washington Post.
"The US Tier One special operations capability is simply magic. They are deadly in getting their target--with normally zero collateral damage--and with minimal friendly losses or injuries. Some of these assault elements have done 200-300 takedown operations at platoon level. The comprehensive intelligence system is phenomenal. We need to re-think how we view these forces. They are a national strategic system akin to a B1 bomber. We need to understand that the required investment level in the creation of these forces demands substantial dedicated UAV systems, intelligence, and communications resources. These special operations formations cannot by themselves win the nation's wars. However, with them we have a tool of enormous and decisive strategic significance which has crucial importance in the global war on terrorists."
(Excerpt) Read more at blog.washingtonpost.com ...
Proving my pet peeve. One well trained enlisted grunt is worth more than an entire stadium of generals or flag officer. The lowest ranking Spec Op grunt should be paid more than any officer above 0-3. And no JAG should ever make it above Major and should be paid what an E-1 makes.
The key to this whole statement is to turn out troops loose and watch what they can do. Stop micro-managing them. Hell, even the Romans knew this.
Now if we can get the same talent on the home front to counter the insurgency from the lame stream media.
Sounds like you got in trouble and are blaming the lawyers.
No, he doesn't have to have been in that position at all. JAGs have F'ed up plenty in this WOT. More then you likely can even imagine......There are plenty of fine JAGs....but there is a sizable portion that have been disastrous for our efforts in this WOT. Directly and indirectly.
Nope, no trouble. I just think that the miltary is for war. Lawyers are antithetical to that purpose. And in Iraq, JAGs have created literally pages of rules of engagemnet for the grunts to follow. The grunts are not told of all these rules. Americans have been killed as a result of these legal mandates. The grunts going outside the wire hesitate because they don't want to be brought up on charges and Marines die. Meanwhile, the JAGs and generals sit in their air conditioned offices inside some guarded compound.
Talk to some grunts coming home from places like Ramadi and Fallujah. There's a good blog called Captain's Quarters taking up this issue as well.
I love these guys. *sigh*
More likely, was enlisted and speedily got sick and tired of all the games, political maneuvering, and just plain insufferable attitude of Royal Personage Present that almost all Zeros have, except for the small percentage of really good ones.
SOCOM Ping
Arkin is not fit to lick the boots of the men that he derides in his columns. What's most telling is the comments from his sycophants. Pure commie agit-prop from the 60s.
This sounds like a judicious use of my taxpayer dollars.
Two points:
1. Note this by Arkin in the article: "These Task Force designations change periodically for "operational security" reasons and are used to identify specific country and/or unit deployments. According to military sources familiar with special operations organization, the current designations are Task Force 11-9, Task Force 16, and Task Force 373."
-- Can you believe this guy?
2. Read the comments at the Post. The triple foam moonbattery is incredible. I'm glad it's landing right in the Post's lap. While most of their journalists are lefties, they are basically still in the mainstream; even if they are at the left fringe of the mainstream. They are generally not insane. Therefore, as they are forced to read the unhinged moonbattery on their own website, day after day, they are gradually going to be pushed a bit to the right -- just to maintain their own sanity. At least that's my hope. I do admit that the growing derangement of the moonbats is making me a bit nervous.
I wouldn't touch WaPostBlog link with a ten foot pole. A bunch of flaming leftists with wild imaginations, who won't leave the America they hate. They should be at hard labor on a chain gang.
the JAG offs need to spend some time outside the wire and getting some hands on experience on rules of engagement that they want their fellow Marines to follow...
they are needed but all Marines are riflemen first... if they do a 12 month tour.... 6 outside the wire-6 inside the wire....
My vote is for the first 6 months to be outside the wire on active patrol....not convoy or escort duty either.
Let's see how these fine men react to a comrade blown in half and seeing the parties responsible for your best friends death just stand there with that stupid look on their faces..
Let them get into a nice little mortar barrage and see how "controlled" they are when they see a mortar team standing by a mosque...and instead of calling in arty or air...ya gotta go down there in person and kill something...
getting shot at by a sniper or having a buddy shot in the face then watching the sniper run into a minaret or mosque that is "verboten" to blow up....
lawyers suck, I'll vote with the Marine in the field 9 times out of 10...war sucks, people die, stuff gets blown up and sometimes you actually kill the enemy..
This would be the Delta Boys. Our premier door kickers...
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