| Description |
1 online resource (vii, 75 pages) : illustrations, maps |
| Contents |
Executive summary. -- Introduction. -- US conventional and special operations forces since World War II. -- Afghanistan, Iraq, and the ascendancy of US special operations forces. -- Current dynamics. -- Policy implications and outlook. -- Conclusion. -- Notes. -- Acknowledgments. -- About the author |
| Summary |
Many crises are best addressed with the innovation and discreetness of SOF, but others require the mass that only conventional forces bring to bear. More often than not, successful military campaigns involve some mixture of both conventional and special operations forces, but tensions between the two have impeded successful cooperation in the past. Special operations forces are the military's innovators; conventional forces are the military's amplifiers. These are complementary capabilities. History reveals that the relationship between conventional and special operations forces is cyclical and governed by two primary factors: a competition for resources and a lack of understanding between the two kinds of forces. Current plans to expand US Special Operations Command threaten to repeat this cyclical pattern, creating a dangerous imbalance. To maximize the effectiveness of both conventional and special operations forces, their roles must be carefully delineated, giving maximum flexibility to the overall force. As the military's innovators, special operations forces should maintain responsibility for direct-action missions and covert and clandestine foreign military assistance and should establish a mechanism to train conventional forces in the art of the indirect approach. As the military's amplifiers, the conventional force should take responsibility for certain missions currently assigned to special operations forces, such as foreign internal defense, most psychological operations, and civil affairs |
| Bibliography |
Includes bibliographical references (pages 61-71) |
| Notes |
Online resource; title from PDF title page (AEI, viewed November 3, 2014) |
| Subject |
Special forces (Military science) -- United States -- Evaluation
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Special forces (Military science) -- United States -- History
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Military planning -- United States
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Armed Forces -- Evaluation.
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Military planning.
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Military policy.
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Special forces (Military science)
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Special forces (Military science) -- Evaluation.
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| SUBJECT |
United States -- Armed Forces -- Evaluation
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United States -- Military policy.
http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85140379
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| Subject |
United States.
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| Genre/Form |
History.
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| Form |
Electronic book
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| Author |
American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research, publisher
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