Posted on Dec 28, 2015
Obama’s ‘Boots on the Ground’: U.S. Special Forces Are Sent to Tackle Global Threats
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More and more is expected of US Special Forces, but misunderstanding of SOF's capabilities and the need for national resources often leads to complete missions which only lead to temporary, tactical success.
Obama’s ‘Boots on the Ground’: U.S. Special Forces Are Sent to Tackle Global Threats
Posted from nytimes.com
Special Forces
Strategy
Barack Obama
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 3
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Major Weiss-Would you concur that there is a general emphasis on limiting the use of traditional combat arms in favor of Special Operations forces, and if so, what do you consider the primary factors?
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LTC Yinon Weiss
Yes, I would agree. There are lots of nuance issues, but I would highlight two macro trends:
1) On a global trend, wars are rarely nation against nation anymore (at least for now). They are nations against decentralized and unofficial groups of people and ideologies. Therefore, conventional military forces are not as efficient.
2) For the United States in particular, there is fatigue from having US ground forces fighting overseas after the last 14 years. Politicians are therefore more likely to opt to sending smaller footprint forces to accomplish objectives.
The problem with #2 is that while Special Forces can do a lot, they cannot effectively achieve national strategic goals by themselves, and we end up in prologued tactical fighting with no strategic end in sight... the last 14 years in Afghanistan being an example.
1) On a global trend, wars are rarely nation against nation anymore (at least for now). They are nations against decentralized and unofficial groups of people and ideologies. Therefore, conventional military forces are not as efficient.
2) For the United States in particular, there is fatigue from having US ground forces fighting overseas after the last 14 years. Politicians are therefore more likely to opt to sending smaller footprint forces to accomplish objectives.
The problem with #2 is that while Special Forces can do a lot, they cannot effectively achieve national strategic goals by themselves, and we end up in prologued tactical fighting with no strategic end in sight... the last 14 years in Afghanistan being an example.
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LCDR (Join to see)
Thank you for your comments. Not being from the community, I hesitate to draw hard conclusions.
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I thought SF wa meant to be a Force multiplier on the battle field by training and arming the locals and not direct action only now?! Look like the current administration what them to be more like the SEAL's, RANGERS or 82 AB
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