Rumsfeld bolsters special forces

Washington Times ^ | 1/06/03 | Rowan Scarborough

[kattracks]

Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld has approved giving U.S. Special Operations Command unprecedented authority to plan and fight the global war on al Qaeda and other terrorist networks, administration officials say.

The Pentagon will give the command $7 billion to buy equipment and aircraft, and to accommodate 4,000 more personnel, two senior officials said. Some of the troops will be used to create battle staffs at Special Operations headquarters in Tampa, Fla., and at smaller Theater Special Operations Command, or T-SOCs, for regional theaters.

[RANGERAIRBORNE]

This is a good move- so long as it doesn't serve to create a huge "Special Operations" bureaucracy...

Now is the time for President Bush to order General Downing back to active duty, to command SOCOM again!

[freepersup]

This is very good news for America. It is very bad news for the vermin and jackals that are destined to be erradicated by this doctrine. FINALLY ! Allowing spec ops the leeway to operate as intended. Thank you President Bush. Thank you Secretary Rumsfeld. Thank you America. Thank you Armed Forces.

[Steel Wolf]

Just the opposite. Getting SOF out from under the leash of the other commands will allow the elimination of reams of red tape and beauracratic interference. This is good news.

[freepersup]

Hello Operator ? I'm sorry- You've reached a different kind of operator...

[freepersup]

Those are some mighty fine looking sound suppressed weapons.

[crystalk]

Looks like a lot more Wacos planned in the future. They may invade your home if you homeschool, or vote Republican.

Or maybe, just if you are a white male.

[kayak]

In June, he sent a classified order to Gen. Holland and Gen. Richard B. Myers, Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman. In it, he ordered Gen. Holland to devise a counterterrorism war plan that would emphasize fast, covert operations.

Also this .....

The study was to "redesign US SoCom to fight the war on terrorism," said an internal memo from Marshall Billingslea, the Pentagon's senior civilian policy-maker for special-operations and low-intensity conflict.

How is this info getting out?

[leadpenny]

Scarborough knows what he can and can't have printed. Rummy would cut him off in a minute if he violated that trust, IMO.

[Steel Wolf]

Oddly enough, the existence and general topics of classified documents may not be classified at all, only the details. It just depends on how they choose to classify it. Internal memos are leaked all the time, to give people a heads up. So long as its not about troop movements, or ongoing operations, it's a great way to get out the word on things, by giving 'the inside scoop'.

[freepersup]

al qaeda is known to operate in 40 - 60 countries. One almost down, 39 - 59 to go. I'm not concerned about another Waco. I'm concerned about another attack on America like what happened in New York, DC, or Pennsylvania. Plus, Americans continue to be murdered around the world. These operators will ply their trade overseas. Your beef is with law enforcement.

[freepersup]

[bybybill]

Imagine if we had 47,000 special forces troops with this leadership and this kind of mandate in Vietnam?

[freepersup]

They did not die in vain... Lessons have been learned (past administration excluded).

I was not in the service then- it pains me to reflect on the politicalization of the administration of military operations and prosecution of the enemy in Nam (orchestrated from DC). FURIOUS !

Yes, things would have been so different with a defined mandate and a will to destroy the enemy from the top (CinC) down to local in theater commanders.

All the way and then some- Airborne.

I am checking out for the night. Catch everyone later.

[leadpenny]

Right! McNamara, eat your heart out. And as for you, LBJ, I wish to urinate on your grave some day.

[bybybill]

The people we lost in Vietnam did not die in vain--what happened AFTER we left validates their sacrifice. LBJ should burn in Hell right next to Hitler, Mao, and the rest of those bastards.

[kayak]

I'm afraid I have become quite cynical and suspicious of the news media. Thanks to your responses to my concern, I can rest easy that this is, indeed, good news.

[Travis McGee]

Whole lotta shakin goin on down at the five sided insane asylum you betcha!

[Nix 2]

BTTT

[Amelia]

Looks like a lot more Wacos planned in the future. They may invade your home if you homeschool, or vote Republican. Or maybe, just if you are a white male.

Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they aren't out to get you.