This one is courtesy of a comment made by Max Headroom.
The question is a simple one.
Were the SEALs given a mission in Somalia that would be better carried out by the Rangers? Or MARSOC?
Company and Battalion sized raids are I'm sure a Ranger thing...and I believe MARSOC specialty. Historically SEALs have had problems with large scale actions. Panama comes readily to mind. MARSOC is relatively new to SOCOM so I can see why their MIGHT have been hesitation to use them in the graveyard that is Somalia. But Rangers have been throat punching in that region for decades.
Why weren't they given the mission...especially considering the environment?
We can look at the makeup of the raid (SEAL Team 6 plus another detachment/team of SEALs providing support) and it appearing that air support was laid on for support so I would think that resistance WAS expected.
The SEALs have been accused of getting the "juicy" missions because of McRaven being in the command chair at SOCOM. Were the SEALs given a mission they were ill suited to carry out successfully? Would a Ranger Company/Battalion been a better choice?
