Military

DATE=9/19/02

TYPE=INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPT

TITLE=LAIRD ANDERSON / SPECIAL OPERATIONS FORCES

NUMBER=3-354

BYLINE=TOM CROSBY

DATELINE=WASHINGTON

INTERNET=YES

/// Editors: This interview is available in Dalet under SOD/English News Now Interviews in the folder for today or yesterday ///

HOST: The Washington Post newspaper says the U-S Defense Department intends to put its Special Operations Command in charge of most anti-terrorism actions. It also says the Special Operations Command will shift towards a more covert war against al-Qaida and other terrorist groups. Special Operations Command includes Special Forces troops as well as counter-terrorism units that can carry out search and kill missions.

Laird Anderson is a retired Army colonel and is a military analyst. He tells News Now's Tom Crosby he welcomes this change.

MR. ANDERSON: I think it's very significant. I think it sends a signal throughout the military that things are really changing, and changing at warp speed (very rapidly), in terms of future warfare. Now, it may not apply to every war in the future -- and there will be wars in the future -- but I think going to special operations -- I've been saying all along that this is a special operations war, the war on terrorism, and I guess it's come up roses (I've been proven correct) on this thing -- but I think it's entirely significant.

I'm not too sure that there is going to be a great deal of enthusiasm throughout the higher ranks, particularly the conventional forces ranks, to see this thing get going. And I noticed a certain reluctance by the four-star general who commands Special Operations Command. He seems a little bit hesitant that this is the thing that should be done. But it's going to be done I think, and it will be done in some respects anyway.

MR. CROSBY: This, of course, puts a lot of burden on Air Force General Charles Holland, who is Special Operations Commander at this time. He picks up a lot more responsibility, and a lot gets taken out of General Tommy Franks' area, doesn't it?

MR. ANDERSON: I think a lot does get taken out of his area. But if you read the stories this morning, I don't think he is going to be all that displeased with the idea. He had a huge command. Central Command is just really terrifically big, and this will take away some of his responsibility. But he will still have a major responsibility in leading the conventional forces in this war. And in the coming war with Iraq -- and I do believe that there will be a war with Iraq -- he will play a significant role, as will special ops.

MR. CROSBY: There was a time, of course, when, if you were a special forces officer, that was almost a career killer. You couldn't count on being elevated to the ranks of general staff. But now it looks as if it might be a bonus.

MR. ANDERSON: You're absolutely correct. And your reference to the historical role of special forces was absolutely right. I served in special forces for many years, and we were all warned as we were coming along -- but I was commissioned as an infantry officer -- but we were all warned that this is a no-starter, that you're going to have to stick with your branch. But there was too much going on, and I think many of us sensed early on that this was going to be a great military opportunity. And, guess what? It turned out to be that, starting in Vietnam and edging its way through the Gulf War, where special ops played a role -- not a significant role but a key role -- and now we come up to Afghanistan, where it just almost dominated the war scene.

So, yes, I think it's a good deal for young officers to consider special forces.

MR. CROSBY: But, Laird, is there a possibility, as we see this shift of more responsibility into the Special Operations Command, that we will see some turf battles within the military, trying to keep some of those responsibilities in other places?

MR. ANDERSON: Oh, sure, there will always be turf battles in the military. And you're going to have the turf battles between the conventional forces, the combat arms forces that are conventional, the infantry, armor, and the like. We will always be trying to get out front, one, for funding purposes, for budgetary purposes, through the Department of Defense, but, yes, there are going to be turf battles. But, what the heck, that's always the case throughout government. And it is going to be interesting to see how this thing shakes out.

We are really not there yet, to know how well special forces can do in a major, major war. Afghanistan was a war, but I'm not too sure I would call it a major war. It was easy. Iraq is totally something different. And it's a new battleground out there. We have never done what we're trying to propose in Iraq before. So each one of these wars is totally different, and we'll just have to see how it shakes out. Special forces, special operations, may have a major role in this war, but it may have to be pulled back at some point.

HOST: Military analyst and retired U-S Army Colonel Laird Anderson. Meanwhile, U-S officials say several hundred U-S troops are in the east African nation of Djibouti for possible missions against al-Qaida fighters in the region, especially in nearby Yemen. However, Yemeni officials say Yemen would use only its own troops to hunt down al-Qaida.

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