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Duffy Sends 16 Feb 2012 – Much Ado About Nothing
Much Ado about Nothing I figured with the announced defense budget cuts that are perceived to bypass SOF that there would be an outbreak of anti-SOF rhetoric hitting the media. However, it is still surprising the amount of disinformation being published about SOCOM and ADM McRaven. A multitude of articles have been published recently running the gamut from allegations of a SOCOM power grab for more authorities to SOF is out of control and needs more oversight. I’ll address the former, for the latter I find that such accusations are made by those who do not understand the chain of command, the orders process and how execution of missions are based on proper authorities in all operations, SOF and non-SOF alike. I don’t know if the leaks and smear campaigns are … Read entire article »
Filed under: Defense Policy, Politics, Special Forces
Duffy Sends 14 Feb 2012 – State Department Requests Budget Increase by Josh Rogin
A bit of a recycle of older Sends, but topical as funding at State remains woeful. Chose this article as I believe it remains a critical issue to increase funding for State and USAID, regardless of cuts to DOD or the USG. The requested increases are statistically insignificant, yet critical to maintain US engagement abroad to expand our diplomatic national power and presence. An increase also shows Administration commitment to Diplomacy and Soft power as the wars drawdown. Current funding levels are incredibly disproportionate between Defense and State, little wonder that our default engagement methodology of national power has been the Military. With pending defense cuts, there will be less means to intervene militarily so I recommend that in addition to the “Asian pivot” we do a “State pivot” as … Read entire article »
Filed under: Politics
Duffy Sends 3 Feb 2012 – Putting the Afghans in Charge – Roger Carstens
I chose this article by Roger Carstens today as it gets to the heart of the myriad of challenges facing our BCTs as they transition from direct combat to an advise and assist mission supporting the Afghan gov’t in countering an insurgency. Let’s be clear, this is not the end of combat operations for our forces, if anything, this will compound the challenges facing our troops and leaders as they must adopt more than an Afghan “face” on engagements. It is well beyond time to leave this theater and transitioning to Afghan led and executed operations is the way ahead to get the troops home. As Roger alludes to, this will be a difficult shift for leaders that haven’t been trained or won’t by in to this scheme, instead adopting … Read entire article »
Filed under: Afghanistan, COIN, Defense Policy, Training
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