Spec Ops Chief Sketched Out bin Laden Raid… in 1995

Choppering 25 Navy SEALs into a populated area covered by the air defenses of an unsuspecting sovereign nation. Fast-roping them down into a fortified compound containing unknown numbers of enemies. Killing or capturing the world’s most dangerous terrorist. Extracting them safely and flying them to Afghanistan the same way they came. No one can say the plan to take down Osama bin Laden was timid.

But it had a template. In 1995, William McRaven published Spec Ops, a collection of commando case studies he used to formulate what he called a “theory of special operations.” Since then, McRaven, now a three-star admiral, rose to lead the terrorist hunters of the Joint Special Operations Command, which killed bin Laden. His book, at least among the general bookbuying public, has fallen into obscurity. But the Cliff Notes were on display in Abbottabad on Sunday night.

Spec Ops isn’t exactly a field manual. But it might be considered a guide to audacity. McRaven wants to know what distinguishes a successful mission from a doomed one. Spoiler alert: “Brave men without good planning, preparation and leadership are cannon fodder in the face of defensive warfare.”

At the heart of all special operations is asymmetry. Operators attack “fortified positions,” confronting a superior force. It’s a recipe for being mowed down — unless you achieve what McRaven calls “relative superiority.” It’s a slippery concept, easy to identify after the fact and more difficult to isolate before or during a mission. Basically, it’s the point at which the commandos seize the advantage, leveraging their unique assets — “technology, training, intelligence, etc.” — to turn their opponents’ superior force into a disadvantage. It doesn’t guarantee victory; but not having it guarantees failure.


What’s individually necessary and jointly sufficient for success? According to McRaven: Keeping it simple. Keeping it secret. Rehearsing thoroughly. Surprising the enemy. Getting in and out quickly. And having a clear — and simple — purpose.

Counterintuitively, what’s needed for all of those to knit together into relative superiority is a small force. ”Because of their size,” McRaven writes, “it is difficult for large forces to develop a simple plan, keep their movements concealed, conduct detailed full-dress rehearsals (down to the individual soldier’s level), gain tactical surprise and speed on target, and motivate all the soldiers in the unit to a single tactical goal.” No wonder insurgents and special operators understand each other.

read more http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2011/05/risky-bin-laden-raid-came-f...

Views: 101

Comment

You need to be a member of 12160 Social Network to add comments!

Join 12160 Social Network

"Destroying the New World Order"

TOP CONTENT THIS WEEK

THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING THE SITE!

mobile page

12160.info/m

12160 Administrators

 

Latest Activity

Doc Vega replied to cheeki kea's discussion Would-Be Trump Assassin Ryan Routh Gave Many Interviews with Mainstream Media
"This asshole had an incredible number of overseas connections and incoming money from unnamed…"
yesterday
rlionhearted_3 posted photos
yesterday
cheeki kea replied to cheeki kea's discussion Tartaria
"It's been interesting reading the comments from the Hungarian Tartaria fans on social media…"
Tuesday
Burbia's blog post was featured

James Comey appears to call for the assassination of President Trump

I'm sure these are the kind of shells Comey is implying here. …See More
Tuesday
tjdavis's blog post was featured
Tuesday
cheeki kea's 2 blog posts were featured
Tuesday
Doc Vega's 5 blog posts were featured
Tuesday
Less Prone commented on Doc Vega's blog post Memorial Weekend Getaway Horror Story
"A nice story"
Tuesday
Less Prone favorited Doc Vega's blog post Memorial Weekend Getaway Horror Story
Tuesday
Doc Vega posted a blog post

Memorial Weekend Getaway Horror Story

The wife and I had been trying to find some vacation time together for weeks when finally Memorial…See More
Monday
cheeki kea commented on cheeki kea's photo
Sunday
cheeki kea posted a photo
Sunday
tjdavis posted a video
Sunday
Doc Vega commented on Burbia's blog post James Comey appears to call for the assassination of President Trump
"Goes to show what ruthless bastards we have in the federal government!"
Saturday
Doc Vega favorited Burbia's blog post James Comey appears to call for the assassination of President Trump
Saturday
Doc Vega posted a blog post

Memorial Day Special: The Battle of the Coral Sea and its Incredible Impact

 When we re-examine major events in history sometimes truly significant occurrences can be…See More
May 23
cheeki kea posted a video

Trump Just Wrecked South Africa...

President Trump just met the president of South Africa, and the discussion quickly turned to the refugee crisis taking place in that country, and what the So...
May 23
cheeki kea commented on Burbia's photo
Thumbnail

What's in Macron's hand? Cocaine bag?

"I think folks need to watch the vid and make up their own minds about the question. It's not…"
May 22
cheeki kea posted a photo
May 22
Doc Vega posted a blog post

The Vampires of Washington DC

 There are many forms of vampire from the supposedly mythical humanoid form to the actual bat that…See More
May 21

© 2025   Created by truth.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service

content and site copyright 12160.info 2007-2019 - all rights reserved. unless otherwise noted