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I said go back but I'm not talking about our previous presence but a small behind the scenes force of intelligence and direct action teams that can take out HVTs. I was a member of such a unit (Task Force Dagger) and it was highly successful. I have deployed with conventional forces and unconventional forces (and while this is no hit on conventional forces) I feel sof units are more effective in this type of environment. I believe allot of people are playing politics with this liberals to slam Bush for starting it, and conservatives for the President pulling out early and sending troops back in. I think we can all agree that allowing units like Al Qaeda and ISIS to have safe haven is in none of our best interest. Particularly in light of A) our borders are ineffective at keeping people out, B) by taking over countries like Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Egypt, these groups are getting access large quantities of weapons they did not previously have access to. C) looting of banks is giving them access to funds so they can hold larger and more effective attacks.
Not going to work as a stand alone unit. Before the HVT teams worked in a bevy of conventional forces that helped keep the informants safe from retaliation. That helped dilute the terrorists response as the terrorists had literally tens of thousands of targets to attack. Make the target much smaller and far more eyes focus on each team- just like the CIA team wiped out by a turn coat suicide bomber.
The surprise effect TF Dagger had in the open terrain of Afghanistan with the mercenary Northern Alliance forces is no longer a surprise. The more urban Iraq isn't Afghanistan, I doubt too many B-52 strikes can be used in Iraq.
I'm more of the mindset that a hammer doesn't fix this, a pen does. Unless the people feel their future lies with the government they will not support stability but rather violent protest. Unless a true political resolution is achieved tribal strife will dominate the region. Now we have a region primed for the sunni/shi'ite showdown. No amount of special units will stop this.