Obama Secretly Deploys US Special Forces to 75 Countries Across World

[tekisui]

Source: Times Online

President Obama has secretly sanctioned a huge increase in the number of US special forces carrying out search-and-destroy missions against al-Qaeda around the world, with American troops now operating in 75 countries.

The dramatic expansion in the use of special forces, which in their global span go far beyond the covert missions authorised by George W. Bush, reflects how aggressively the President is pursuing al-Qaeda behind his public rhetoric of global engagement and diplomacy.

When Mr Obama took office US special forces were operating in fewer than 60 countries. In the past 18 months he has ordered a big expansion in Yemen and the Horn of Africa — known areas of strong al-Qaeda activity — and elsewhere in the Middle East, central Asia and Africa.

According to The Washington Post, Mr Obama has also approved pre-emptive special forces strikes to disrupt terror plots, and has given the units powers and authority that was not granted by Mr Bush when he occupied the White House.

It also emerged yesterday that Robert Gates, the US Defence Secretary, has ordered the Pentagon to find savings of more than $100 billion (£68 billion) over the next five years to redistribute more funds for combat forces — including special operations units. Mr Gates has called on all departments to come up with proposals by July 31, and is initially demanding $7 billion in cuts and efficiencies for the 2012 fiscal year, and further cuts each year up to 2016.

The effort to provide more money for combat forces in Afghanistan and Iraq — including special operations units — is likely to lead to a clash with Congress, and also with the defence industry if favoured equipment programmes are scrapped.

The aggressive secret war against al-Qaeda and other radical groups has coincided with a surge in the number of US drone attacks in the lawless border region between Pakistan and Afghanistan, an al-Qaeda and Taleban haven, since Mr Obama took office.

more: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article7144445.ece

[ClarkUSA]

1. "secretly" eh? Then how does a reporter from The Washington Post know about it? n/t

No source/no proof = just another unsubstantiated "news" story

[dionysus]

2. threadkiller

;)

[tekisui]

3. No doubt more info will come out on this.

But, you can buy some time with that.

[dionysus]

4. as your mission to paint us as evil marches on

:eyes:

[tekisui]

5. A personal attack?

Ok.

[dionysus]

6. if you have that thin of a skin.. hoo boy. more like your transparent goal.

:eyes:

[tekisui]

7. Another personal attack.

[dionysus]

8. ROFL

:spray:

[mkultra]

9. your posts are a personal attack on everyone here

so chin up little camper.

[dionysus]

10. !! PERSONAL ATRAKC!111!!11!!11

:rofl:
;)

[tekisui]

12. I am enjoying this.

It is all you have.

[dionysus]

13. on the contrary, i am sure you're in a pretty big snit.

:hi:

[tekisui]

15. And another.

:rofl:

[dionysus]

16. if i called the sky blue, you'd claim it was a "personal attack". quit using that tired shield.

[tekisui]

17. You got nothing.

:hi:

[dionysus]

19. projection is a skill you have in abundance

:hi:

[tekisui]

20. Thanks for the kicks.

People need to see what is being done in our name.

[dionysus]

21. i guess that's better than you kicking your own thread out of desperation.

:shrug:

[tekisui]

27. This isn't about me. No matter how hard you try.

:shrug:

[dionysus]

30. you're the one imagining "personal attacks"

:shrug:

[depakid]

60. Doesn't look like imagination to me- more like petty bullying

by those who are almost always entirely devoid of substance.

[arcadian]

66. so you just post things to provoke people

[tekisui]

11. Bullshit.

[spoony]

58. Bullshit.

But the fact that you're so threatened by them is amusing, and telling.

[vaberella]

36. That's what I wondered. n/t

[Nuclear Unicorn]

39. Like secret CIA prisons in foreign countries?

Or secret wire taps?

Or secret money tracking programs?

just sayin'

[tekisui]

14. kick.

:)

[FrenchieCat]

18. So you like AlQaeda? I'm sure whatever he's doing

it is with the cooperation of those countries.......
kind of like Pakistan.

Sorry but the majority of folks simply don't like AlQaeda.
So better ops out there keeping them busy,
since that's what Ops are for.

Perhaps that's the only way that we can end the war in Afghanistan,
is to do what we should have been doing instead of declaring
all out war.....cooperating with other countries
to get rid of these MFs.

After all, when a plot actually is carried out successfully,
and Obama is called on the carpet with the American Press
saying he wasn't doing anything against Al Qaeda,
what are you gonna do? Stop posting? :shrug:

[dionysus]

22. that common sense logic doesn't fit with the not so subtle "obama is a war criminal" meme the OP is

trying to peddle (peddles daily).
:hi:

[FrenchieCat]

24. Fuck that shit!

Al Qaeda don't like us or dislike us because of Obama, or even Bush for that matter.
Evil asses don't have no nationality; they are everywhere,
and many will do anything, and won't lose any sleep over it.

I always imagine that some folks are so arrogant about being righteous,
for whatever their reasons, they probably would like to think
that if AlQaeda hijacked the bus that they were on,
somehow they'd be able to talk AlQaeda into sparing their life.
Like AlQaeda gives a shit about life! :rofl:

[Flying Dream Blues]

41. Thanks, FrenchieCat; it's what I've been saying all along.

Why declare war on an entire population just to weed out the terrorists? It makes no sense. If Obama is doing this, I'm glad.

[cornermouse]

46. Golly gee.

I guess we'll have all those troops in the mideast home before Thanksgiving since we're changing the way we're "fighting". ...Yeah right. :sarcasm:

[Flying Dream Blues]

49. Golly gee, yourself.

Nice response. Maybe you should offer your strategic services to President Obama, cornermouse, since you clearly have all the answers.

As for me, I'd rather see Al Quaeda leadership getting killed than civilians. Yet I'm also realistic enough to realize we can't just pull out and leave without trying to stabilize the mess we were left by the war criminal regime. I don't think Obama is perfect but I do think he's doing everything he can with what he's been given in the war arena.

[boppers]

23. ABC also reported on this "secret".

Hint: This isn't a secret, and has been reported on constantly, by multiple news sources.

[FrenchieCat]

25. Reminds me of Glenn Beck talking that video of the Flotilla incident,

saying that no other "Media" was running the footage,
and then Jon Stewart showed that everyfuckingbody was
showing that footage!

Saying it is a "secret" sounds like no one knows.....
although everybody and their mama knows.
But it sounds nefarious, and keep those with open nostrils
thinking that peace on earth in this fucked up world would happen only if
Obama would just takes out his Nobel Peace Prize, put it around his neck,
and starts singing in his rich baritone....of course, only after he ends all war, denounces Israel,
tames Iran, kisses Hugo Chavez's ass, transforms us into Sweden and gives China back all of it's money!

Cause some believe life could all of the sudden turn into a big ass Miracle, If only.....!

[boppers]

26. Hey, look, a Washington Post thread on it, too!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x4413252

Real scoop, this.

[FrenchieCat]

28. No shit! Secret is out, obviously!

But you know how it goes....
one minute Obama's naive and weak,
and the next minute, he's a fucking death Squad supporting maniac.

Folks want their fucking cake,
and you know they want to eat it too...
that's why they will only get their satisfaction
when the impossible happens....which of course, it won't.

[dionysus]

31. if, if obama had such poor security this secret got out... we should be outraged!!11!elevens

[dionysus]

29. Frenchie, you're on a roll!

:thumbsup::thumbsup:

[ProSense]

32. The administration has a lot to deal with, but one thing

it cannot focus on is the 24/7 baseless media reports.

So everything the media spits out become de facto reality.

[FrenchieCat]

33. I trust the White House more than I do the media.......

So that tells you what I think about Time-Warner and the rest of the corporate assholes.
At least I voted for Obama.....but Time-Warner,
I don't fucking know how they got to be in charge....with their lying, exaggerating,
manipulative "don't give a shit about this country" colluding asses!

When they wanted to go to war, we went.
Now they want to try and make this President a one termer...
and I just have to say to these sleazy numbskulls...oh hell-Fucking-NO,
I ain't listening to none of your bullshit! Didn't then, and don't now.
At least I'm gonna be consistent.

[tekisui]

34. The thread stands.

Everyone of your posts has beemn about me. None about the OP. Anyway, on to ignore with you.

[Hansel]

45. +1 - This reads more like a tabloid piece

chock full of hyperbole with little in quantitative facts to back any of it up:

-secretly sanctioned a huge increase
-dramatic expansion
-go far beyond
-reflects how aggressively
-his public rhetoric
-big expansion
-redistribute more funds
-demanding $7 billion in cuts and efficiencies
-likely to lead to a clash with Congress
-favoured equipment programmes
-The aggressive secret war

This is supposed to be a news story?

[tekisui]

35. Delete.

Wrong place

[donco6]

37. Kick

[spiritual_gunfighter]

38. Thank you for posting this

this is fucking typical, not surprising. K&R

[Moochy]

40. K&R

I see Team Ignored is out in force today

[bvar22]

42. K&R

Simply because of the swarming attack by DUs self-anointed Thread Police.
Normally, I won't rec a thread that can't be independently verified, but the pack attack lends credibility to the OP.
If they had not kicked this thread so many times, I would have never seen it.
Thanks!
:hi:

[tekisui]

43. Thanks.

They are a strange breed. They choose to attack the messenger and bury their heads rather than engage in discussion.

[neverforget]

44. Thanks! Interesting read.....the article too!

[tekisui]

47. lol.

:hi:

[neverforget]

48. You're welcome!

:hi:

[ima_sinnic]

50. the Empire rolls on, with trillions for war, mayhem, and plunder & zilch for We The People

oh, but "al qaeda" is EVERYwhere!!!11
hide under the bed!!

[impik]

51. Man, some people really lives in La La Land.

What did you think, that they'll stop doing what they do for decades? The world is full of evil. Where the hell have you all been on September 11?

[stevenleser]

52. And this is bad because... ??? n/t

[ima_sinnic]

53. because there seems to be limitless money for war & empire, & nothing for us here in the USA

or haven't you noticed the unemployment rate, the people going bankrupt because of medical bills, the foreclosures, the crumbling infrastructure, the increased demand on food banks, the lack of social services, etc etc ad nauseum?

[stevenleser]

54. Sorry "ignored" I cannot read your response.

Since you are on my ignore list, I can only assume your response was an attack on Obama.

[ima_sinnic]

55. so you hear only what you want to hear

you can't read this but let others see how the real "brains" operate here at DU.
keep your fingers in your ears while singing LALALALALA to filter out what you consider "attacks."
you asked a question but did not want it answered. why waste everybody's time?
I now consider your credibility as a poster to be down around subzero. brilliant!

[Divine Discontent]

64. it was a post asking why millions can be in so much need here, but there's limitless funds for the

military industrial complex. I agree. But I have been asking for special ops to be increased in the worst areas for years, and therefore they can lower the presence of ground forces, thus saving billions and focusing on tearing apart the real bad guys instead of accidentally bombing people from above over and over and over... it was great to see this a few days ago in the news, it's about time they increased the funding for this, hopefully it will signal a withdrawal of troops sooner rather than later.

[spoony]

59. Lol. Wow.

What fucking planet is this? "Democrats" shrugging and applauding an expansion of military interventionalism that exceeds what Bush even dreamt up? Can you name another country that has military operations in 75 countries?

[stevenleser]

61. Lol. Wow yourself.

I was against the Iraq war, yes.

I've never been against going after Al Qaeda and its offshoots. The question is, why are you?

p.s., it isn't considered "military interventionalism" when you are going after people that attacked you. THEY were the interventionalists.

[spoony]

65. Hmm, where have I heard that line of argument before?

"We need to do this to get the terrorists. Why are you against getting the terrorists?"

Hmm, now where have I heard that...seems not so long ago...

I guess you'd be cool with foreign spec ops guys skulking around the US for the civilians we've killed, right? And why aren't the other countries attacked by terrorists rampaging through the entire globe? Oh, yeah, because they aren't complete power drunks who think they have the right to do anything anywhere any time.

[stevenleser]

68. LOL, where have I heard "Where have I heard that before"

You are just so determined to paint with that ten mile wide brush you have arent you?

Its actually impressive with how insistent you are with missing the point.

Yes, by golly, it is possible to be in favor of some military operations and not others. Isn't that amazing?

Yes, I am not in favor of Presidents who make up reasons to attack and occupy other countries. Isn't that amazing?

But yes, if it involves actual Al Qaeda and their affiliates, and I trust a particular administration's word on that, then I am not against it. Once again, if an administration has not previously lied us into a war, I am more apt to trust them.

Again, I am happy to have an honest discussion of any of these points, but I am sure you will once again reply with something superficial.

Surprise me. I dare you.

[donco6]

67. Kill 'em over there, so you don't have to kill 'em over here.

Sounds like a plan. But I could swear I've heard it before somewhere . . .

[Blue_Tires]

56. i didn't even know we HAD enough SOF to put in 75 countries...

[stevenleser]

62. We don't. The article is misleading. We have troops in 75 countries, its unclear...

how many of them are Special Ops.

[agentS]

57. The second key part of the article is being ignored here

Defense Secretary Gates wants major cutbacks in unnecessary defense spending so we can spend it on things that can and do work (like special ops) now rather than on wars of the future that probably will never happen (like a war with...?). But the Congress and the MI complex is putting up a huge fight but I doubt they have the 2/3s majority necessary to break a veto.

Obama and Gates should hold firm against the MI complex.

[stevenleser]

63. Funny how the Holier than thou folks in this thread missed that part.

thanks for drawing our attention to it.