Tango01 | 18 Dec 2014 10:57 p.m. PST |
…Special Forces To Islamic Extremists?. "Tweaks needed for hostage rescue, terrorist targeting missions with element of surprise lost In the secretive special operations community, officials are debating whether to tweak tactics for daring and risky missions involving hostage rescue and terrorist targeting that have been compromised by years of detailed news accounts and Hollywood portrayals. Some believe Islamic extremists have gone to school on special operations forces. The classroom is the U.S. media. Special operations forces' three most recent attempts to rescue American hostages failed. Last year, SEALs attempted a beach insertion to capture a terrorist leader in Somalia but were spotted and repelled. There was also the horrific loss of SEALs in a helicopter shoot-down that some family members believe was an ambush…" Full text here link Amicalement Armand |
Jcfrog | 19 Dec 2014 4:38 a.m. PST |
They are medieval barbarians but thinking it makes them stupid in everything is a mistake. Underestimating the enemy always is. And imagine, they might even play wargames. |
Legion 4 | 19 Dec 2014 8:26 a.m. PST |
Yes, I belive there is too much in the media about the who, how, what, etc. of the US Military. There should be plenty of time when it's over to mention such things when Daish, AQ, etc. are all gone … but I still believe much should stay in the shadows. OPSEC is very important in any military ops. And even more so when it comes to Spec Ops … I even thing the ARGO movie said too much … The less the enemy knows about … the better … |
Weasel | 19 Dec 2014 10:01 a.m. PST |
Sort of imagining that they have plenty of first-hand experience with how western troops fight. In any event, it's a moot question. First amendment yo. |
Legion 4 | 19 Dec 2014 10:11 a.m. PST |
First Amendment is fine … as long as it doesn't put assets in danger … Even in WWII we knew that, "Loose lips … Sinks ships … ". I'd imagine if you or had relative on one of those ships … you may think differently … |
Weasel | 19 Dec 2014 10:52 a.m. PST |
In times of war, censorship laws can be passed. That's a discussion for the fine people we elect to be our representatives. edit: Can we drop the "you might think differently.." nonsense? I served in my country's military (albeit in peace time) and I have several friends in the US who are active or former military service. My best friend went to Kuwait during the first Gulf War. |
CorpCommander | 19 Dec 2014 11:07 a.m. PST |
I produced a modern war game about counter insurgency and was warned by a friend in the Army that it could be used to train insurgents. After consideration, I agreed it could be. So I modified things. Wargames are very helpful tools to get the mind structured for thinking about tactical problems. The media goes into a frenzy when methods are secret. "Clearly secret methods must be war crimes." However, there is a reason why football teams keep their playbooks secret as well. Surprise is a major force multiplier. |
John the OFM | 19 Dec 2014 12:20 p.m. PST |
I still remember Jim Dunnigan of Strategy and Tactics fame appearing on CNN or FOX as an "expert" advising whatever alphabet soup Palestinian group that had taken a shot at an El Al airline and missed with a SAM, to check the batteries. |
Legion 4 | 19 Dec 2014 3:25 p.m. PST |
Glad to hear it Weasel, I didn't know that … Thank you for your service. But since you never mentioned it and I'm not psychic … @ Good one, John, I remmeber Jim D and S&T, still have many of the old issues … Yes, CorpCdr, Surprise is one of the Principles of War and very much a combat multiplier … That's why we keep many secrets during a war. Did not Churchill say something like, "In war, secret are so precious they must be protected by a bodyguard of lies" ? |
doug redshirt | 20 Dec 2014 12:24 p.m. PST |
Rescue operations are tricky things to pull off to begin with, I think if you look you would see most of them end up failing. Sure we remember the success but there are sure a lot of failures out there too. |
Legion 4 | 20 Dec 2014 3:24 p.m. PST |
Hopefully by the time the enemy knows you're there … he's dead or shortly on the way to it … |
Whatisitgood4atwork | 20 Dec 2014 4:50 p.m. PST |
I'm guessing that getting your education from the press, or worse yet, from movies could be a double-edged sword. There are two common criticisms of the media on these boards: they are giving too much away to our enemies, and they can't get anything right. |
Legion 4 | 21 Dec 2014 11:10 a.m. PST |
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Sean Kotch | 21 Dec 2014 11:18 a.m. PST |
Instead of censorship, how about former SOF guys quit flapping their gums and signing book/movie deals. |
latto6plus2 | 21 Dec 2014 12:34 p.m. PST |
For Psyops purposes all special forces guys should be given plastic surgery so they look like Chuck Norris … |
Legion 4 | 21 Dec 2014 2:59 p.m. PST |
Instead of censorship, how about former SOF guys quit flapping their gums and signing book/movie deals.
All that sort of thing should be run by the Pentagon first … however it appears that always does not happen … sadly … |
Legion 4 | 21 Dec 2014 3:01 p.m. PST |
For Psyops purposes all special forces guys should be given plastic surgery so they look like Chuck Norris …
And Stallon, Arnie, Willis, Eastwood, etc. .. make a whole bunch'a different action movie heroes. Confuse the hell out of the enemy !
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