Special ops to command missions

VFW Magazine, March, 2003 by Tim Dyhouse

Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld proposed in January that U.S. special operations units get a larger piece of the defense budget, more personnel and greater autonomy to plan its own missions. He says it would allow them to respond more quickly to military crises.

"The global nature of the war, the nature of the enemy and he need for fast, efficient operations hunting down and rooting out terrorist networks have all contributed to the need for an expanded role for the special operations forces," Rumsfeld said earlier in the year.

His plan calls for boosting the budget of the Tampa, Fla.-based Special Operations Command from $4.9 billion to $6 billion next year and increasing it by $1 billion annually for five years thereafter: It would add some 4,000 more personnel, most likely as strategic planners, to the current 47,000. Most significant is that the Special Operations Command will now be in charge of certain missions.

"What it means in practical terms is that the theater special operations command would have access to Marine units in the region, air units, naval units, Army units and so forth, which would act in response to its direction," according to a senior Pentagon official.