When I heard that SF was going to start conducting VSO, I was thrilled as it looked like Special Forces was going back to its counter insurgency, by, through, with, roots as opposed to the almost exclusive direct action world we had seemed to slip. I have since grown skeptical as there seems to be some confusion as to what it takes to conduct effective  COIN operations in relative isolation. Too often, it seems that outsiders observe success and attempt to replicate it without replicating the support and freedom of action which made the operations effective in the first place. It is as if the skeptics who said it could never be done, were proven wrong and are now demanding that the same success be achieved, but now under their control and with nothing even approaching the same resources or circumstances. Special Forces … Read entire article »

A forum featuring Gen. Keane (Ret), Sen. McCain and Sen. Lieberman disccused Afghanistan beyond 2011. Warfare Center editor in Chief LTC Dave Duffy (Ret) was there to ask the question that is on the minds of many of our SF brethren. Daves question is 43.04 min into the forum.     … Read entire article »