Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Rumsfeld bolsters special forces
Washington Times ^ | 1/06/03 | Rowan Scarborough

Posted on 01/05/2003 10:23:51 PM PST by kattracks

Edited on 07/12/2004 4:00:07 PM PDT by Jim Robinson. [history]

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.


(Excerpt) Read more at washtimes.com ...


TOPICS: Breaking News; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS:
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041 next last
To: RANGERAIRBORNE
Genr'l Downing was certainly a capable general. He was commander of JSOC years ago when I was assigned to one of their units.

One of our junior commanders at the time, Doug Brown, has since risen to command both Jsoc & USASOC. He just completed his tour at USASOC and has moved up to the duputy's chair at USSOC. He had picked up a 3rd star on the way.

I hope he will be given the 4th star and eventually moved into a 4 star command....he's a true warrior and soldier's general. (Started as a private!!!) He's been at the helm of all our major successes in recent years at the operational level.

Pray for leaders like Downing, Holland, Brown, etc. This nation has no idea how much it owes its special warriors -- to include their leaders.
21 posted on 01/06/2003 5:13:47 AM PST by xzins
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

Comment #22 Removed by Moderator

To: leadpenny
Please don't omit JFK from your list of socialists who undermined what might have been:

SF was independent of the bureaucracy and command interference until Kennedy issued those second hand green berets.

DOD took only a few years to wrap them back up into a more acceptible package. Fortunately, things appear to be coming around today when most needed.

23 posted on 01/06/2003 6:07:48 AM PST by norton
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: norton
I always had the impression that JFK was the champion of SF and that it wasn't until the 70's when the conventional branches (specifically Infantry) sapped the strenth and prestige from the Green Berets.
24 posted on 01/06/2003 6:19:26 AM PST by leadpenny
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

To: leadpenny
JFK did champion SF but in his own image.

The original, and still most effective, concept was to operate without the great pile of publicity (and John Wayne 'cowboys and commies' movies) that Kennedy made part of his propiganda legacy.

I worry today that we are hearing and seeing too much of the current story but I'm also fairly certain that the real work is being done in the dark.
25 posted on 01/06/2003 6:30:23 AM PST by norton
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]

To: norton
I'm sorry. I see your point now. I heard someone in DOD some time ago mention that, in the future, SF/Special Operations Forces will become the rule rather than the exception in the military. The same thing has happened in the CIA. They publicize more of what they do. Like you said, we don't know what else they do.
26 posted on 01/06/2003 6:39:10 AM PST by leadpenny
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies]

To: Travis McGee; RANGERAIRBORNE; sneakypete; Squantos; harpseal; SLB
Finally! This is going to increase our terrorist-killing potential exponentially!
27 posted on 01/06/2003 8:13:17 AM PST by Matthew James
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: Matthew James
Yes indeed it will! In the war on terror, this is going from battleships to aircraft carriers.
28 posted on 01/06/2003 9:48:53 AM PST by Travis McGee
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 27 | View Replies]

To: xzins
I was informed this weekend that Generals Downing and Stiner have been asked to come back to Ft. Bragg.
29 posted on 01/06/2003 2:43:48 PM PST by Bruce Buckley
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: xzins
I am excited about this news and God Bless Rumsfeld. I pray always for our military leaders and men and women. I will begin to pray specifically for these men and those they command. Excellent post, xzins.
30 posted on 01/06/2003 7:56:58 PM PST by maranatha
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: xzins
Quick question, How come they don't give out a 5th star anymore, and do you know who the last people were to get a 5th star?
31 posted on 01/06/2003 9:33:23 PM PST by Sonny M
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: Bruce Buckley
That was a great era....Stiner, Downing....they were the pioneers after Jimmy Carter's "desert one" debacle.

Thank God for Ronald Reagan, folks. His administration made an entirely new Special Operations emphasis happen.
32 posted on 01/06/2003 9:40:16 PM PST by xzins
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 29 | View Replies]

To: Sonny M
If I remember correctly, MacArthur in Korea was the last action of a five star....although didn't Bradley survive the longest on active duty??

You would go asking history lessons.

Someone told me that because of the 5-star level that the only 6-star is Genr'l Washington. He was given his posthumously to ensure he would always be the highest ranking general ever.

Why don't they give it out anymore? Could it be because of the formation of JCS and CJCS?? I really don't know.
33 posted on 01/06/2003 9:43:19 PM PST by xzins
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 31 | View Replies]

To: xzins
I think your right on MacArthur, I know Bradley did have a 5th star. I could just never figure out if its been retired or if they just don't want to give it out for a political reason or what it is. I'm hoping some freeper out there has the answer.
34 posted on 01/06/2003 10:01:07 PM PST by Sonny M
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 33 | View Replies]

To: hellinahandcart; backhoe; dennisw; Long Cut; geedee
Very, very, very big story, IMHO.

Special Forces Command is being given the ability to initiate and plan their own missions. This is a heartening indication that we are planning to acheive and maintain a level of aggressiveness, responsiveness and creativity consistent with putting the fear of Jesus Jorge You-know-whatin' Christ into the jihadis, and (especially, one hopes) into the imamawannabe monsters that instigate their orc-mad mass murders.

The infidel spooks and jinn are coming in the night for you, you sorry, Seventh Century P.'sO.S.

35 posted on 01/06/2003 10:20:08 PM PST by Stultis
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: 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.

Yeah sure! That's the goal - invade Americans - help the terrorists in their efforts.

We can do things the same old way and get the same old results or we can use our heads, think outside the box and enable our soldiers to get the job done.

We have to protect ourselves from the enemy here. If we do not, they will just put more enemies here and overtake us from within. Those that worry about change will just have to come up with ways to ensure that what they fear does not happen.

Doubt that many soldiers are interested in barging in on homeschoolers - many of them have children too.

36 posted on 01/06/2003 11:07:21 PM PST by ClancyJ
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: kattracks
Amen to the SOF. May it always be like jazz - nimble on its feet in the formulation of new ideas - rather than formulaic in a compiled dogma.
37 posted on 01/06/2003 11:11:19 PM PST by guitfiddlist
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: kattracks
Ranger



Rangers are those Elves, or Dunedain, who wander the lands of Arnor and Ithilien hunting orcs, and otherwise keeping an eye on the movements of the Enemy. They specialize in combat on foot, and are skilled with a bow.

38 posted on 01/06/2003 11:19:25 PM PST by Stultis
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Stultis
It's a big deal and we better start training a lot more of them. Make Special Forces something very desireable to be part of.
39 posted on 01/07/2003 3:07:28 AM PST by dennisw
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 35 | View Replies]

To: Sonny M
I'm hoping some freeper out there has the answer.

The fifth star is only given during time of war. Granted we are at war but I guess we are not in a "declared war" so you probably won't see any.
40 posted on 01/07/2003 8:53:40 AM PST by wasp69
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 34 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson