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Old 05-23-2005, 00:21 AM   #7 (permalink)
Shek
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Franco Lolan
Read it.

Against a poorly trained and emplaced enemy, the "Afghan model" in which SOF lead indigenous forces can succeed as a result of the enemy's ineptitude and overwhelming fire.
However, against more skilled enemies, such as al-Queda fighters at Bai-Beche and in Operation Anaconda, the US cannot simply rely on SOF leading massive amounts of fire. It must have the ability to fire and manuever.
From reading "Not a Good Day to Die" about Anaconda, I got the impression that the most successful part of the operation was the three special reconaissance teams that inserted early and were able to dominate the battlefield through CAS, so I wouldn't sell SF short on that end of the stick. However, on the other end of the stick, you're definitely right that a SOF trained indigenous force won't pass muster against a more experienced and hardened enemy in a conventional battle.
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