Sometimes, The Best Offense Is Patience

Green Berets (Photo from ABC News)

The U.S. Special Operations Command Is Moving Away From Dramatic Raids In Favor Of Long-Term Strategies -- Star Tribune

Weeks after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, 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 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 themselves. 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 Fridovich, the Army officer who designed the Philippine program.

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My Comment: For this "long war against terror and militant Islam", the only way to approach this conflict is a long view perspective.