Sublime

At the same time, SOCOM’s lead role in countering violent extremists and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) will continue, even if they are no longer accorded the highest priority for the U.S. government. SOF will need to maintain its focus on these problems even though conventional forces are refocusing on peer competitors. Ind

Another thing that was becoming important was the use of cyber and electronic devices for things like close target reconnaissance. Traditional special reconnaissance (SR) was becoming absurd. SR didn’t make sense anymore in an age of drones and advanced ISR [intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance]. But it could become close target reconnais

Sergeant, there’s critical information missing

policies.

The Bin Ladens built the bases. A Bin Laden would seek to destroy them. Osama bin Laden issued his “Declaration of War Against the Americans Occupying the Land of the Two Holy Places” in 1996, after the Dhahran bombing. On the face of it, this seemed an absurdly imbalanced war: an exile living in a cave complex in Tora Bora, Afghanistan, taking on

SOF resource limitations may require SOF to collaborate with conventional forces in fighting insurgents and terrorists, but SOF should retain the lead in the collaborative relationship and control when and where conventional forces are used in support. This is because SOF’s intrinsic attributes—to the extent they have and safeguard them—give them a

Sean Naylor’s Relentless Strike: The Secret History of Joint Special Operations Command is another case in point (Naylor 2016).