Special Ops Commander Discusses Challenges, Priorities

SSG Norman Lihou — Tue, 27 Jan 2015 15:54:21 -0500

The command naturally has a global focus, the general said, but works with regional combatant commands to fill in the seams. He used the foreign fighter problem as an example, saying the number of foreign fighters going to Syria and Iraq to fight with the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant is “staggering.”

“More than 19,000 foreign fighters from 90 different countries have travelled to Syria and Iraq,” he said. “Their ideology is overpowering.”

http://www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=128047

Skill, precision, cultural acuity, cutting-edge capability, flexibility, professionalism and teamwork still are the hallmarks of America’s special operations community, Army Gen. Joseph L. Votel said.