Originally posted by Skelkie3
reply to post by Reading
All due respect to the good ol RAF and others- if I get caught in a hole somewhere ( and wars against tough opponents are not about super-smart
operatives blending with the locals )- then I hope it's a hole full of US Marines.
You see, special forces become ( I think ) less effective in this meat grinder that seems possible in central Asia. Blending with the locals will mean
being part of a stack of bodies...
So, some ( indirect ) advice from the soon-to-be RAF... discipline is lacking, and people act like cowboys to the detriment ( ? ) of the mission.
Thanks.
I starred that post. Can't believe I did it, as i generally disagree with what you say, but I did.
The only point I would contend is your proposal for (apparently - I could be wrong) Afghanistan ("Central Asia" meatgrinder). I believe that's a
war where Special forces should be brought to the fore, rather than conventional forces.
Allow me to explain.
Special Forces are generally trained for that very sort of unconventional warfare. That's what they do. Conventional forces, on the other hand, are
geared more toward massed assaults and such. Big numbers for overwhelming force against the opposition, but also big fat targets.
When Kabul fell in the initial onslaught in Afghanistan, I think there were around 50 US soldiers in theater. 100 boots on the ground. Using the
concept of force multiplication with the locals, combined with supply and air support, 50 US soldiers caused the fall of Kabul. All 50 were US Special
Forces.
Afghanistan didn't really go sideways until the conventional generals muscled in and took over, fearful that they wouldn't get their share of the
"glory", as if such a thing can be found in a war. Conventional forces are a grand thing in their element. Unconventional warfare is not it.
To make an attempt at analogy, I once had a horse that was killed when it stepped on a yellow jacket nest, before I could get it out of that mess. The
horse died within minutes. That was because the horse wasn't geared to fight that sort of battle, but the yellow jackets were.
Another analogy would be that using conventional forces to fight an unconventional war is much like using a framing hammer to kill flies. It MIGHT
work eventually with a lucky shot, but look at the ensuing unnecessary destruction.
I guess my point is that both types of forces have their place, but both are being misused by the folks calling the shots.
you really got
forced into that one your country was in iminent danger ! 
