Mattis says Conventional Forces will do more Special Ops missions...if that's the case then why is SOCOM so big?

via antiwar.com

After the end of the first US occupation of Iraq, the Pentagon made a concerted shift to use special forces more heavily in the future, allowing more flexible overseas operations with smaller numbers.

Defense Secretary James Mattis suggested this is likely to change in 2018, as continued escalations in myriad countries have already pushed US special forces to their limit, and continued escalations are going to rely on using conventional ground troops in the operations.

Though Mattis suggested this would have them in “special operations roles,” in many cases this will mean embedding conventional troops into operations, or deploying them in smaller US military operations across Africa, in places where small special forces deployments were kept out of the public eye.

With conventional deployments, the numbers will likely have to rise to have a similar impact in those countries, raising the possibility of more casualties, and making the escalations a lot more controversial in the long run.

All you need to focus on is Mattis saying that conventional forces would be used in special operations roles.

That should focus your eyes and your brains on this issue like a laser beam!

SOCOM as the supported entity?  BULLSHIT!

The concept of SOCOM being a war winner has died a well deserved death.  We have been fighting by SOCOM rules in Afghanistan and Iraq and until they deemed it "necessary" to allow conventionals into the fight did we finally see movement against ISIS.

We're seeing the same run and hide behind conventionals in Afghanistan too.

THESE WERE TAILOR MADE CONFLICTS FOR SOCOM TO STRUT IT'S STUFF AND THEY CAME UP SHORT!

Time to recognize the reality of the situation.

SOCOM is a supporting, not supported force.  The idea of them having their own branch (I don't even know how to properly classify that organization), command...whatever is a huge shit filled stupid sandwich.

The various Special Ops Units need to go back to their parent services and the Army should be the lead agency when it comes to equipping them (unless they already have established procedures like the Navy SEALs do...oh and MARSOC should follow Army Special Forces/Rangers and NOT  FOR ANY REASON marry up with SEALs...they're broken beyond recognition!).

The last of the Rumsfeld initiatives has been shown to have been a tremendous folly.  SOCOM can't win wars.  SOCOM can't lead fights.  

They had their time in the sun and did not deliver.  Time to put them back in the cage!