WASHINGTON — They are taking on a larger combat role in Afghanistan, where the war was supposed to be over. They are headed to Syria to help fight the Islamic State in its stronghold. And President Obama recently ordered nearly 300 of them to Cameroon to assist African troops in their battle against a militant group that has pledged loyalty to the Islamic State.
With the Middle East in tumult, radical groups holding swaths of territory in Africa, and a presidential campaign fanning fears of a growing terrorism threat, the White House has steadily expanded the global missions of American Special Operations troops.
Even as Mr. Obama has repeatedly said that he opposes American “boots on the ground” in far-flung parts of the world, his administration continues to carve out exceptions for Special Operations forces — with American officials often resorting to linguistic contortions to mask the forces’ combat role.
WNU Editor: This is why the U.S. is now involved in multiple conflicts and wars .... there is no big footprint .... but there is a small footprint, albeit filled by America's "best soldiers".
2 comments:
Special Forces is the Goldilocks of US foreign policy. The regular military is too cumbersome, too public and ineffective, the CIA is too secretive unreliable and uncontrollable, but SOCOM offers just the right approach, small and secretive, and yet controllable. It's just right; at least that's the belief.
But when they get heavy into he assassination business, as in Vietnam and Afghanistan, they too become a liability.
damn few
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