The secret forces who ensured success of attack

The Telegraph (U.K.) ^ | 07/24/03 | Michael Smith

[Pokey78]

Task Force 20, the special forces team that has been hunting down Saddam Hussein and his supporters, played a key role in the raid that ended in the deaths of the former dictator's sons.

Allied special forces are organised into Joint Special Operations Task Forces wherever they operate. JSOTF 20 includes members of Delta Force, the American equivalent of the SAS, Devgru, the US navy special forces team previously known as Seals, the SAS and the SBS.

It is not yet clear whether British personnel were involved in the raid that killed Uday and Qusay Hussein.

The SAS squadron in Iraq at present is believed to be G Squadron, which is expected to be rotated out soon after gruelling operations in the British-occupied area and around Baghdad.

While all these units have a reputation for secrecy, they are as nothing to that of the organisation providing the intelligence for Task Force 20, known as the Intelligence Support Activity.

The organisation was set up after the failed attempt to rescue American hostages from Iran in 1980. It is known only by a series of codewords, the latest known version being Gray Fox. This is believed to date back to the war in Kosovo and is almost certainly out of date.

"These guys change their names like the rest of us change our undershorts," said one American military intelligence source.

"The Activity", as it is known to insiders, was set up because the military did not feel it was getting the immediate tactical intelligence it needed from the CIA and the National Security Agency, America's signals intelligence organisation.

It was originally hidden from Congress to ensure that it did not have to report to the powerful Senate and House intelligence committees.

When its existence was finally admitted, it was ordered to be closed but was kept going, albeit with a degree of accountability.

The Activity has its own signals intelligence specialists and human intelligence agent runners who are prepared to infiltrate agents into the most dangerous places, in a way that the CIA has often been reluctant to do.

Like the other allied special forces it has its own "direct action" operations team, "the Shooters", who act on the intelligence it produces. It has become adept at hunting down America's enemies abroad.

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

When its existence was finally admitted, it was ordered to be closed but was kept going....

Good job. How do the Dems dare even mention "intel" and "scandal" in the same sentence?

[nickcarraway]

ping

[MonroeDNA]

Outstanding!

[ExSoldier]

To this day...if you ask the US Army about "Delta Force" they look you straight in the eye and tell you no unit by that name exists. SO? Look at the spokesperson and ask about the CAG...otherwise known as the "Combat Applications Group" otherwise known as SFOD-D: Special Forces, Operational Detachment-Delta" or by it's Hollywood title: "Delta Force." THEN they'll give you a steely eyed look, jot your name down for the FBI and change the subject. LOL

[Citizen Tom Paine]

We sleep safe in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm." George Orwell

We should offer up a prayer for the brave persons that are carrying the fight to our enemies.

[I got the rope]

We should offer up a prayer for the brave persons that are carrying the fight to our enemies.

I agree. Bump.

[rangerwife]

I love that quote. It is one of my favorites. Thank you for posting it. Dittoes on the prayers.

[Susannah]

"The world is a dangerous place to live, not because of those who are evil, but because of those who do nothing about it." - Albert Einstein

Bless our soldiers!

Delta Force, CAG? >>
"People know better than what they hear and what they see."
~Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (at the Democrats' annual Jefferson Jackson Bailey dinner in Southington)

[CIFShooter]

CAG (Combat Applications Group)/SFOD-D (Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta) are the US Army's specialized Counter Terrorism assett which fall under the direct command of JSOC (Joint Special Operations Command). They were formed up by Charlie Beckwith after we did a stint in an exchange program with the British 22 SAS Regiment, and modeled the unit after it. It also has roots in the little known CT element that was stationed in Europe known as "Blue Light." SFOD-D's first well known mission would have been the tragedy of Operation Eagle Claw, at Desert One. The failure was not due to poor performance by Delta, but like of Joint Service capabilities, which did not yet exist. They've done quite a bit to erase that nasty past now though. During Just Cause in Panama they rescued Kurt Muesse and to locate and bring Noriega into custody. They also played the now well known roll in Gothic Serpent in Somalia. SFOD-D has participated in mutliple other less publicized but admitted operations in the past also. Such as serving as advisors for hostage situations and particpating in Close Protection duties, which has been clearly seen in Afghanistan and Iraq, although it has been a key mission since the beginning. They also deployed to Bosnia to help search out and "Snatch" war criminals. Anyway, hope that helped.
On another note, DEVGRU is not what was once known as the "SEALs" which still exist. DEVGRU is simply the rename of what was known as SEAL Team 6. They also fall under command of JSOC, and are responsible for maritime counter-terrorism.

[Constitutional Patriot]

"the American equivalent of the SAS"

SSShhhhhhyeah...right!!!!

I believe our Delta Forces have no equal anywhere in the world.

[rangerwife]

Thanks for the info, but I'm not the one who asked about CAG or DEVGRU...I think that was another poster. I know the history behind them both. I am an avid reader of military history/military subjects in general. I am fascinated by it all. I know that probably sounds weird coming from a chick!! So much so that I hope to work in the field someday, as a civilian, if I can ever make it through college, but I've been busy raising 2 children. I just finished reading The Hunt For Bin Laden by Robin Moore about SF in Afghanistan. Excellent book.

[CIFShooter]

Rangerwife: Yeah, I actually meant that for Susan, it was my first post and I mis-read the whole who posted what mess, my fault. Not to bad mouth your view on Robin Moore's book, but a lot of what he wrote is hoaky crap. Not to mention his love for Keith Idema (aka "Jack"), who doesn't deserve an ounce of credit for anything. Here's a joke for ya, "How can you tell if Idema's lying? His lips are moving." I lost a great deal of respect for Moore with that book. Good read though, just...not exactly on the mark. I wish you the best of luck with your future, the SOF community is always looking for dedicated people.
Pokey78-No one is "better than the other" only way someone can really judge that is by having time on the ground, on the gun with both/all organizations in examination. Something I most certainly don't have reguarding CAG or 22 SAS. However, the Special Air Service was the father of all SOF organizations in some form or another. My first post was off, Beckwith formed CAG after the SAS, not several people. I put "we" instead of "he" and couldn't figure out how to edit the post.
Anyway, all available information about CAG's organization closely resembles that of 22 SAS ie: the whole concept of Squadrons and Troops, and a great deal of the less known but acknowledged CAG activities were done in close relation with the Regiment. 22 SAS may not be "the best", I don't know anyone who is really fit to bestow that title. But they are the equivelant of CAG, debating that is pointless.

[Pro-Bush]

This is the news I like to hear!