Marine Corps Times on special ops efforts to nail Zarqawi

http://www.michellemalkin.com/ ^ | April 28, 2006 | Sean D. Naylor

[SevenMinusOne]

The O-5 commander of each task force can authorize a raid without seeking TF 145 approval.

This freedom, combined with the amount of intelligence generated on missions, creates a furious operational tempo for the TF 145 elements, which average well over a mission per day.

From 6 at night to 10 the next morning, “We’re going balls to the wall, doing hits all over the place,” the special operations source said.

This is why our SOF units have become so effective within Iraq over the past 12 months and Zarqawi will not be able to operate within our OODA loop for much longer - And while S. Naylor doesn't have the best of reputation (especially within the SEAL community) he was certainly given quite a decent behind the scenes type view here -

Zarqawi is alive because 1. He is a tough / mean SOB and 2. He has been da*m lucky! -

Also it is clear slightly within the article some of the bruised ego's within the "white" SOF community - But that is to be expected and is also over-hyped as well -

The reality is in this phase of the WOT we need more shooters / DA type guys -

Which is why the SEALs have been so prominent - the SEALs have become the premier direct action SOF units in the GWOT - (of course the smaller Delta element is right there as well)

I think the one major area of concern for JSOC was the concern that too many of our DA Units were so dependent on receiving their Intel from OGA's - That has switched to a sizable degree over the past 12 months (thanks to SecDef Rumsfeld) with more of this units developing and then immediately acting gathered Intel (Not to disparage OGAs...they have provided a ton of valuable Intel).

[Rhiannon]

Disagree. The enemy is in the battle and have personal experience of the details. They already know. It is us that do not know what is going on. The detail of what composition of units do not help the enemy.

[SevenMinusOne]

Though it probably should be said that there have been some instances where "white" SOF units were not used to their capabilities (especially in Stan, I've heard from a few people)....because higher-up's were waiting on a "black" SOF unit to arrive - And because of this some HVTs likely have been missed -

That was in days past however and much of that has been corrected in Stan -

[DJ Taylor]

Zarqawi is alive because 1. He is a tough / mean SOB and 2. He has been da*m lucky! 3. He's probably running things from Syria.

[SevenMinusOne]

3. He's probably running things from Syria.

Nah - the guys hunting his sorry as$ seem certain he is in Iraq (probably made runs to Syria back in 03 / 04 - But since mid 05 the routes to Syria have been cut off big time -

[Eagles6]

The detail of what composition of units do not help the enemy.

\I am speechless. Are you serious?

[xzins]

The detail of what composition of units do not help the enemy.

It does help the enemy. Order of battle info is traditionally classified, and assignments certainly are. We employ entire MI sections to do nothing but ferret out the enemy's order of battle. It is significant. In short, just about everything the enemy does not know helps our side....that's part of the information battle.

[ASA Vet]

Those of us in the MI community mostly consider OGA a non-intel agency.
Product goes to them, but they modify it to suit their political purpose.
OGA gives little thought to the tactical forces actually needing good product in a timely manner.

[ASA Vet]

We employ entire MI sections to do nothing but ferret out the enemy's order of battle.

We use an enemy OB like a skeleton. Give us the skeleton up front and you'd be amazed at how quickly we can flesh it out.

[SevenMinusOne]

Those of us in the MI community mostly consider OGA a non-intel agency.

Agreed - But we've put in practice several OGAs in recent times that are directly Intel oriented and working side by side with our SOF -

OGA gives little thought to the tactical forces actually needing good product in a timely manner.

Well said and very often too true -

[ASA Vet]

We went though the same missteps in SEA too.
Eventually your guys and our guys started working very closely, (including real time comms,) which benefited both your operators and our collection.
We took a very protective "mother hen" attitude towards "our guys."
You've have been amazed at the talent and resources brought to bear when you were in Indian country.
Also when you returned we enjoyed your company, (once you'd showered,)
and shared lots of quarrels about whose turn it was to buy.
Sadly that relationship faded after Nam.

[TheClintons-STILLAnti-American]

"He'd probably die of old age first if he's captured alive and put on trial."

More likely he'd be turned loose on a technical charge against the U.S. government by a Clinton-appointed judge.

[Just A Nobody]

Zarqawi's escape in Yusufiyah was not the first time special ops troops have nearly had him. In early 2005, they came so close they could see the Jordanian's panicked face as he fled.

If you don't mind, I have 2 questions.
First, if Z was fleeing, how did they see his face.

Second, if they were that close, why was he not shot and killed instead of being allowed to flee?

[prairiebreeze]

ringey-pingey

[patriciaruth]

A miss is as good as a mile.

God favor them with better intel. God knows they have the guts to do the job.

[RedEyeJack]

All true. It might confirm what he already knows... assuming everything in the article is correct. Then again, it might be what we want him to think is true. Information warfare at this level is not always straight forward.

At any rate, his spies are probably already ferreting such info out and more... one possible reason why he is still alive.

[Recon Dad]

Eagle6 needs to watch Col David Hunt on Fox this morning he gave the same information that was in the article.

[joesnuffy]

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[Eagles6]

Because a talking head ex-general says it on Fox that makes it alright? Unless it is a psyops campaign I can't see how it helps and can envision a hundred ways that it can hurt.

[CWOJackson]

"I believe this publication and Army Times, Navy Times and AF Times are published by USA Today and have no affiliation with the armed services."

There was a time when the "Times" was a publication we could all rely on. You learned about pay raises, promotions, etc., from the Times quicker then you did through channels. They also ran stories that were true to us, critical or non-critical, you believed them.

That changed a long time ago.