Where would you draw the line?

Leader O'Cola · 02-13-2012, 10:22 AM

Top officer seeks ‘more autonomy’ for elite special ops forces: report | The Raw Story

johnshadows64 · 02-13-2012, 10:29 AM

Quote:

The newspaper said Admiral William McRaven, who leads the Special Operations Command, is pushing for a larger role for his elite units who have traditionally operated in the dark corners of US foreign policy.

In principle, like Kurtz in Apocalypse Now. Just tell 'em not to inoculate anybody.

Ballboy534 · 02-13-2012, 10:32 AM

If the situation calls for special forces, then it's logical that their commander should make the decisions. The Pentagon weenies often have little clue as to the logistical and tactical needs of the SEALS/Green Berets/etc, and their CO should have latitude as to when and where they are deployed.

fordman84 · 02-13-2012, 10:38 AM

No autonomous ops on US soil, other than that...give em free run. The guys in the heat of the battle know the real time situation, and I'd hate to be outnumbered in a bad place and be waiting on a call back from someone in Washington DC

olympicoscar · 02-13-2012, 02:03 PM

I would be in favor of giving them all the autonomy they want. You can achieve more with a small unit against specially selected targets than you can with a much larger one.

potzer25 · 02-13-2012, 02:12 PM

This looks like it has nothing to do with tactical decisions during a mission and everything to do with special operations commanders wanting to be "more important" in the upper echelons of military hierarchy.

They need to fall under the command of the regional commands like they do now - just like ships and boats transfer fleets when they move to different regions of the world. Otherwise you will have actions taking place in an area outside of the view of the person responsible for that area, possibly in conflict with current goals, and you would create a huge mess.

02-13-2012, 10:22 AM	#1
Leader O'Cola Extreme Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Far West Chicago Burbs Posts: 13,632 Rep Power: 142264	Where would you draw the line? Top officer seeks ‘more autonomy’ for elite special ops forces: report \| The Raw Story __________________ It's not by death, but by life, that death kills life

02-13-2012, 10:32 AM	#3
Ballboy534 Resident Rehabilitator Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: SC Posts: 3,395 Rep Power: 12015	If the situation calls for special forces, then it's logical that their commander should make the decisions. The Pentagon weenies often have little clue as to the logistical and tactical needs of the SEALS/Green Berets/etc, and their CO should have latitude as to when and where they are deployed. __________________ "Yes, I saw Dear John. He was good in that movie and in fact that movie is not that bad" - OregonDucks

02-13-2012, 10:38 AM	#4
fordman84 Giant Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Flower Mound, Tx Posts: 5,370 Rep Power: 45890	No autonomous ops on US soil, other than that...give em free run. The guys in the heat of the battle know the real time situation, and I'd hate to be outnumbered in a bad place and be waiting on a call back from someone in Washington DC __________________ Love is like a fart, if you have to force it then it's probably shit.

02-13-2012, 02:12 PM	#6
potzer25 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: SF East Bay Posts: 3,405 Rep Power: 12091	This looks like it has nothing to do with tactical decisions during a mission and everything to do with special operations commanders wanting to be "more important" in the upper echelons of military hierarchy. They need to fall under the command of the regional commands like they do now - just like ships and boats transfer fleets when they move to different regions of the world. Otherwise you will have actions taking place in an area outside of the view of the person responsible for that area, possibly in conflict with current goals, and you would create a huge mess. __________________ pearls before swine

02-13-2012, 02:03 PM	#5
olympicoscar Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Dallas Posts: 2,428 Rep Power: 13602	I would be in favor of giving them all the autonomy they want. You can achieve more with a small unit against specially selected targets than you can with a much larger one.