"Seals" - the elite of the American special forces
Today, a large part of the American population considers its government insufficiently competent to manage the whole state, but as far as the "fur seals" are concerned, they are still at the height.
The first special units of the US Navy appeared as early as 1943, when the Americans tried to learn from the experience of the British military in the jungles of Burma against the Japanese, and create similar forces. It is clear that the British military were the first instructors of the new division.
These special units are known worldwide as "fur seals". By the way, the abbreviation SEAL also sounds the same in translation. Members of the unit must be ready to begin any assignment at any time and in any conditions. During the preparation, much attention is paid to actions on the water. It is believed that story "Sea lions" began from the time of the Civil War (1861 year), when the northern troops used to detect the swimmer mines. The first units were organized in 1943 year specifically to fight the Japanese, who by that time were already actively using the skills of combat swimmers. The Seals were active participants in the most bloody operations of the Second World War, including on the island of Iwo Jima and during the Allied landings in Normandy.
The modern marine special forces corps was formed in 1962, under the direct control of President Kennedy.
SWAT was trained to assist pilots. For example, during the war in Iraq in 1991, ground units found minefields, and the airborne then destroyed them. In addition, the special forces of the US Air Force took an active part in anti-terrorist operations conducted in the territory of Afghanistan.
It is worth remembering about the operation carried out in April 2009, when American captain Richard Philips got hostage to the Somali pirates. For the American president, the situation was too risky from a political point of view, moreover, she placed on him a huge responsibility. Plus, Barack Obama has never before dealt with the "sea lions" division, which carried out the most secret missions in secret military conflicts.
The military command of the US Air Force sent a small group of "fur seals" to the scene, which landed with the help of parachutes on inflatable boats located in the Indian Ocean. A few days after the hostage-taking, the American president ordered the use of military force, but only if there was a real threat to the lives of the hostages.
The next evening (and it was 12 April), three snipers from this group were able to approach the pirate boat to the required distance. They took a waiting position. When one of the pirates put a machine gun to the American captain, the "seals" opened fire. Thus, the pirates were destroyed. Then an assault group of special forces landed on a boat of pirates and rescued Captain Phillips.
Today, in the face of a reduction in government contributions to the military sphere, as well as an increase in the number of enemies scattered in many countries, the presence of a special unit in the state that conducts well-targeted military operations is obvious. Therefore, US President B. Obama is increasingly resorting to the assistance of "sea lions".
Beginning with 2001, the government has allocated approximately 10,5 billions of dollars for the needs of the Special Operations Headquarters. At the same time, the number of business trips has increased (approximately 4 times). Admiral William McCrain, who commands this special unit, has repeatedly asked the authorities to provide him with more resources and autonomy. According to some sources, the admiral wants to expand his forces in Africa, Asia and Latin America, as well as to achieve the ability to personally decide on the movement of military equipment and manpower if necessary, in order to increase the flexibility and speed of operations.
But the president of America cannot fail to realize what can happen if the special forces think about themselves and their powers too much. That is why the reaction of some high-ranking US officials and military officials, who are wary of the expansion of powers of special forces, is understandable.
B. Obama understands perfectly well that carrying out covert operations has many not only legal or practical difficulties, but also a moral dilemma. Therefore, his approach to attracting special forces is balanced. Suffice it to recall, for example, the operation carried out in September 2009, when American intelligence learned of the intention of one of the key participants in Al-Qaida, Saleh Ali Saleh Nabkhan, to drive through the desert in southern Somalia. It was a good chance to either destroy him or capture him alive without a great risk to civilians. At the same time, the military remembered very well the unsuccessful operation in the same region when more than 15 Rangers (another American special forces unit) died.
After weighing all the pros and cons, the American head of state concluded that this plan was the only possible one for a given period of time. He approved a plan to conduct an operation called “Heavenly Equilibrium”, the execution of which was entrusted to “fur seals”
The next day, several American helicopters with a group of special forces aboard flew into the waters of Somalia from warships and captured the column of Nabkhan. During the operation, Nabhan and several other militants were killed. One helicopter landed in order to collect the remains of Nabkhan for identification.
Today, "fur seals" - this is really the elite of the US military forces. They destroyed the al-Qaida leader. By the way, there is information that in a few months the entire team that participated in the elimination of bin Laden, was killed in a helicopter crash. This incident occurred in the Afghan province of Wardak. On board the car were 30 "cats", 7 Afghan special forces and a translator.
In addition, two officers of an international charitable organization, who were taken hostage in Somalia, were released by naval special forces.
The experience of conducting military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan was the result of a situation where not only politicians who give orders, but the special forces themselves are accustomed to conducting covert operations in the territories of other states. So, at a time when al-Qaeda was going to send its militants to Iraq for war with the Americans, the US military issued an order to land on Syrian territory to capture or destroy Abu Ghadia, who controlled the delivery of foreign fighters to Iraqi territory. Then 9 militants were killed, among them was Ghadia himself.
Of course, no one argues that the presence of special forces in places of local conflicts and the conduct of covert operations by them is necessary. But the use of special forces at any opportunity may lead to discontent of the international community, and what will happen next, we can only guess ...
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