Special Forces bring it:
The commandos, from the Army’s Delta Force and the Navy’s classified Seals units, have had success weakening the network of Sirajuddin Haqqani, the strongest Taliban warrior in eastern Afghanistan, the officers said. Mr. Haqqani’s group has used its bases in neighboring Pakistan to carry out deadly strikes in and around Kabul, the Afghan capital.
Guided by intercepted cellphone communications, the American commandos have also killed some important Taliban operatives in Marja, the most fearsome Taliban stronghold in Helmand Province in the south, the officers said. Marine commanders say they believe that there are some 1,000 fighters holed up in the town.
Although President Obama and his top aides have not publicly discussed these highly classified missions as part of the administration’s revamped strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan, the counterterrorism operations are expected to increase, along with the deployment of 30,000 more American forces in the next year.
These kinds of efforts take the fight to the foe on his home turf, and interrupt his planning cycle. They also require focused intelligence, not all of which can be developed from national sources.
They require boots on the ground.
“Army’s Delta Force and the Navy’s *classified* Seals units”
Wait, what?
Purple SEALs, maybe. Or DEVGRU.
Do the “purples” wear the old “Royal Triton” purple uniforms, Lex?
Pursuit of “high value targets” are the exclusive purview of the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) — Gen McChrystal’s former command. They are supported by an extensive infrastructure, both at home at Ft. Bragg, and in theater. The actual trigger pullers come from one of two of JSOC’s “special mission units” (or “Tier 1 units”) — the Combat Applications Group (AKA Delta Force) or the SEALs of DEVGRU, as Lex identified.
These guys were responsible for finding Saddam Hussein and Zarquai — same TTPs, different theater. And as I understand it, their intel comes from all sources — in theater, and national sources. And while they do work in conjunction with the regional combatant commander, they are tasked at the national level — they are not “in support” — they are “supported”.
Obviously works pretty well.
One can only assume (?) that this same type op is being conducted in border areas of Pakistan, and maybe even a foot or two in. If the word gets out the bad guys will move one square over to Tajikistan. I’m sure Joe Biden personally approves every mission since he is so knowledgeable on specops.
We should have been doing this since day one, or maybe we have been. Wonder how many on-line hits the NYT gets from SCV (stinkin cesspool villages) over there?
Sounds like business as usual…I just question the advisability of going public with this information. Best
“Guided by intercepted cellphone communications, the American commandos”
So, who do we shoot for this little leak?
More bad guys…soonest.