An Inappropriate Use of Special Forces by Congressman Tom Cole, The Ada News

Warfare has evolved again, and today, terrorism has become an intrinsic part of the world order. This type of conflict is ambiguous, spills across borders and is not subject to the lessons learned from history’s book on warfare. However, President Barack Obama has decidedly attempted to convince the American people otherwise, particularly in the War on Terror and in confronting ISIS.

Time and again, President Obama has made clear his objective to bring troops home, and in areas of ongoing conflict, he has authorized a minimal and limited “boots on the ground” presence. Now given the troubling violence instigated by ISIS and spreading across Iraq and Syria, even the president undoubtedly realizes that keeping “boots on the ground” in some capacity is unavoidable. It remains to be seen if Obama’s policies can be effective in stabilizing regions where civil society and governance have struggled to take root…

Since the Obama administration announced plans to bolster special operations forces in the Middle East, under the guise of assisting local military efforts, recent events suggest engagement has grown beyond its intended role. Earlier this month, a U.S. Navy SEAL, Charles Keating IV, was killed during a firefight with ISIS militants in northern Iraq.

I am troubled by what appears to be a growing primary reliance on special operations in lieu of a more comprehensive strategy from the Administration to defeat ISIS. It is evident that President Obama believes we need boots on the ground…

Read on.

Dave Kilcullen discusses the challenges in Africa, to include urbanization, at the Africa Center for Strategic Studies.