Indirect Approach is Favored in the War on Terror

[SWJED]

Indirect Approach is Favored in the War on Terror - Peter Spiegel, Los Angeles Times

Weeks after the Sept. 11 attacks, a small team of Green Berets was quietly sent to the Philippine island of Basilan. There, one of the world's most virulent Islamic extremist groups, Abu Sayyaf, had established a dangerous haven and was seeking to extend its reach into the Philippine capital.

But rather than unleashing Hollywood-style raids, as might befit their reputation, the Green Berets proposed a time-consuming plan to help the Philippine military take on the extremist group itself. Seven years later, Abu Sayyaf has been pushed out of Basilan and terrorist attacks have dropped dramatically.

"It's not flashy, it's not glamorous, but man, this is how we're going to win the long war," said Lt. Gen. David P. Fridovich, the Army officer who designed the Philippine program.

Fridovich is part of a quiet but significant transformation taking place within the most secret of the US military's armed forces, the Special Operations Command, or SOCOM, which encompasses the Green Berets, Army Rangers, Navy SEALs, Delta Force and similar units from the Air Force and the Marines...

[Uboat509]

I'm not sure exactly what is new about FID. It's been SF's bread and butter since the beginning. It's why there is SF in the Army. I blame Hollywood. I suspect that most people think of Rambo when they hear the words Green Beret, so of course they are surprised that we train people to fight our enemies rather than running around the country side with a bow and explosive tipped arrows.

SFC W

[bismark17]

Agreed. It was a rather ignorant article. But, then again how many people in our society understand the conventional Army, let alone the SOF community? The various pillars of our society are becoming more and more entrenched into their various groupings. Combine that with a lack of a historical perspective being taught in our schools, masses of potential voters are being produced who don't have a clue. Many are "learning" about the world via video games and 30 second blurbs they catch on tv.

[max161]

Agreed. It was a rather ignorant article. .

I would be interested in reading your analysis on why it was an ignorant article.

[Tom Odom]

I would be interested in reading your analysis on why it was an ignorant article.

Not speaking for Bismark bit my take on it would be the premise -- that FID is new is shall we say unaware, naive, uneducated, or ignorant as in unknowing in the classic sense. The irony is that the author then uses "Hollywood-style raids" as his fall guy when he has already demonstrated a rather screenplay understanding of what SF does.

That aside, I would not apply ignorant to Eric Olson whom I would describe as a no-bull####, unpretentious, thinkerwith little patience for flash but a quick wit and great sense of humor. We shared a 20x20 classroom at DLI for modern standard Arabic in 1982-1983. I also believe that since its inception, SOCOM has tended toward direct action more than FID and if Eric is steering the ship more toward the middle channel, he is doing the right thing.

I was not impressed with mid-level SF leadership when I had 'em on the ground with me in Rwanda and 2 of 'em had to go home. The teams were great but the leadership did not seem to get that working indigenous forces meant adapting rather than dictating. My own SF contacts tell me that the post 9-11 has been a great shakedown and that is good thing.

Tom

[MikeF]

Given the rise of suicide bombers, VBIEDs, etc., is it still possible to send small teams of advisors overtly into the ME or SW Asia or has the threat environment increased to the point where a Phillipines or El Salvador mission is simply not feasible in some parts of the world?

Furthermore, I believe this article highlights the interal SOF debate over Rambo and the quiet professional.

v/r

Mike

[jkm_101_fso]

I blame Hollywood. I suspect that most people think of Rambo when they hear the words Green Beret, so of course they are surprised that we train people to fight our enemies rather than running around the country side with a bow and explosive tipped arrows.

Yes, but you COULD destroy terrorists with explosive tipped arrows!

Hollywood and the media have done much to bolster SF's mysterious and elite image, even if it is a little corny...maybe a reason so many try out for it?

Many guys I know who went to selection BECAUSE they wanted to be a part of that.