Special Forces Speak Out Against Kerry's Claims
Blackfive blog
This is an email to Bill O'Reilly at FoxNews from a recently retired Special Forces Master Sergeant who spent 15 years on A Teams. It is in reference to Senator Kerry's claims that he will double the size of Special Operations Forces - a topic that's been discussed on this blog before. I'm posting this letter as just one more indicator from our military (retired or otherwise) about their regard for John Forbes Kerry.
1 - Gen Franks recently wrote an editorial in a NY paper concerning Sen Kerry's allegations that Pres Bush let Bin Laden slip away. Gen Franks said in part that "he had SF teams with Afghans, who knew the terrain, caves and routes, better than anyone else,......". Gen Franks, to his credit, did the right thing,...to find a small unit of guerillas,...you send in a small unit of guerillas. American conventional combat arms units, while the best in the world, were not the right choice to send into that region looking for Bin Laden. Conclusion - Sen Kerry spinning the circumstances and lack of results (killing Bib Laden) to his own politcal benefit - no big suprise there.
2. Sen Kerry repeated claims that he will double Special Forces. I assume he means all of the DoD Special Operations Forces (SOF), but I only know about Army SF. The Army SF Groups, 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th and 10th, all have a hard enough time keeping the operational detachments (called "A" Teams) at any deployable strength. Most teams operate with 7-10 men. The table of organization and equipment (TO&E) requires a 12 man team. Fat chance. There just isn't a big enough pool of men in this country to make SF any bigger without lowering the standards. Lower the standards and you will not have the right men to execute the missions. Raising the pay and instituting more specialty pay will help families at home and raise the morale of the men, but will not create a greater pool of men to apply and to make it through SF training. Money is just not a good enough motivator for living the SF life. You have to want to do it. Conclusion - Sen Kerry is presenting a hollow promise,..or worst, he may keep his word and lower the standards of SF and SOF. Again - a calculated political move for a campagin devoid of solid promises.
I'm voting for Preseident Bush,....I can't say I even know anybody who will vote for Sen Kerry.
regards,
Brad G. |
