THE INTEL
The difficulties facing today’s military officials and government sponsors fall within the realm of intelligence gathering. This step may seem to be the least invasive of them all, being that engagement on the military level is not imminent, but that assessment would be incorrect. An America that is confronted by terrorism must always have the best and most reliable intel available, otherwise lives are jeopardized. The assets in the field are basically becoming the enemy in order to blend in with and learn their many secrets, both outward and inward. Attempting to “fit in” is just the tip of that iceberg. There is the language barrier that must be completely overcome. Hints of accents or dialects, no matter how slight, are already enough to raise red flags. Often times, the asset is the last to know that their cover has been blown.
On top of discovering the secrets, it now must be communicated to the contacts through a means that may not always be ideal, especially if the asset’s identity has been compromised. Once that information is communicated, perhaps the most frightening time for the asset is remaining in character and in place, acting as if nothing is amiss. This is, of course, the most dangerous time of all. Once the operation begins, the asset has either already agreed to be pulled out by special forces, foreign contacts on the ground, or has to arrange other alternative means of escape from the region or country.
Once intel is received, it must be verified. Much of this is done internally, through many difference divisions of both the military and intelligence communities. However, often times, it is also done through communications with foreign allied powers, particularly those dealing with FVEY (or the Five Eyes) who are represented by the Australian, UK, Canadian, New Zealand and US governments. This is a multilateral UKUSA agreement where intelligence is shared between the aligned nations. If the intel pans out and is verified, operations and logistics kicks into play and begins the surveillance and planning stages of who, what, where, when and how. Which unit gets the nod, what will be required in the way of vehicles, air/sea suppression fire support, rearguard activities/communications, where the operation will begin and where the rally point will be in the event of success or abort mission, when the cohesion will take place with all elements and how it will transpire in the prediction sense. All these questions must be answered before a single piece of equipment or personnel can be moved. At this point, diplomats and foreign emissary contacts will be pooled to begin the process of ensuring foreign assistance and authorization for such missions.
WE’RE A “GO”
Finally, once the planning stages are discussed and approved at the Pentagon level, the strictest of secrecy is engaged and forces are called up for action.
In the case of the modern raid, many times, leaders are equipped with DNA kits which allow the forces to 100% identify the target following capture or kill in order to rate the success of the mission. These kits will literally give a positive ID to the high-value target within minutes. This is a valuable addition to the forces’ capabilities to ensure that “mission accomplished” can be stamped on this event.
In the case of the death of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the DNA kit assessed that Delta Force had acquired the correct target and the words that resonated within the Situation Room while the president, vice president and their generals were “Jackpot!”
It was a good day for America.
"…at the compound, fighters from two locations in the vicinity of the compound began firing on U.S. aircraft participating in the assault."
– Gen Frank McKenzie CDR USCENTCOM pic.twitter.com/SkrtHNDs7w— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) October 30, 2019
Image: NationalInterest
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