Map of Afghanistan (CIA) - Afghanistan News

Afghanistan News Update – SOF News

August 19, 2016 SOF News 0

Afghanistan news – Topics include SOF burning the candle at both ends, contractors in Afghanistan, National ID card, Afghan documentary on Helmand province, and Afghan mental health issues. US SOF Burning Both Ends of Candle in Afghanistan. Phillip Lohaus, a […]

MQ-9 Reaper, drone

Drones – A Strategic Weapon for the United States

August 18, 2016 SOF News 0

At first the use of drones, referred to by the military as Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) or Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPAs), was limited to aerial reconnaissance and surveillance. However, it wasn’t long before the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) put a […]

Combat Pistol Shooting at ISTC Range (Photo ISTC Flickr).

Special Operations Update for 20160817

August 17, 2016 SOF News 0

Change in Newsletter Frequency. The “SOF News” update will no longer be emailed out each day. After today the newsletter will only be sent out on Sunday mornings. This change is the result of a few factors; but primarily other […]

Afghan Air Force A-29 Super Tucano flying over Kabul - Afghanistan Conflict

AAF – More Planes and Pilots Needed

August 16, 2016 SOF News 0

The Afghan Air Force (AAF) is struggling to perform its mission of supporting the Afghan National Army (ANA) and the Afghan National Police (ANP).  It’s mission of aerial reconnaissance, movement of troops and supplies, and aerial fire support is vital […]

Special Operations Command (SOCPAC). Photo from 2016 USSOCOM Factbook

SOF News Update for 20160816

August 16, 2016 SOF News 0

SOF News Update for August 16, 2016: India’s special forces, WWII female spy passes away, Taliban gaining ground in northern Afghanistan, and more. Info on India’s Special Forces. India has a number of elite forces – one of which is […]

Operation CARPETBAGGER. Photo from National Museum of US Air Force

Operation CARPETBAGGER – Supporting OSS in WWII

August 15, 2016 SOF News 0

During World War II the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), the forerunner of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and U.S. Army Special Forces, used the U.S. Army Air Forces to fly secret missions into Europe. The aircraft would drop supplies, […]

Map Northern Iraq

Mosul Reconstruction? What Role for USAID?

August 15, 2016 John Friberg 0

With the re-capture of Ramadi and Fallujah, Iraq it was discovered that there was a lot of humanitarian assistance and reconstruction required. Whether this aid is being delivered effectively is still in doubt. The re-capture of Mosul, Iraq’s second largest […]

Map Estonia

SOF News Update – August 15, 2016

August 15, 2016 SOF News 0

SOF News Update: Gen Dunford interview, how Afghans flee to Europe, Helmand province threatened, book review of “Tribes”, Russia and Political Warfare, Afghan interpreters punished yet again, 1st Special Service Force honoured, and Russian aggression in Estonia. Russian Aggression in […]

India SOF

Special Operations Forces of India

August 14, 2016 SOF News 0

India has many special operations force units. The most well-known include the Paras of the Indian Army, the Marcos of the Indian Navy, and the Garuds of the Indian Air Force. But there are other lesser known ‘special operations’ units […]

Map of Afghanistan (CIA) - Afghanistan News

Special Operations News Update – 20160814

August 14, 2016 SOF News 0

Leader of ISIS in Afghanistan Killed by U.S. An airstrike in July by the United States killed Hafiz Sayed Khan, the head of the Islamic State’s branch in Afghanistan. Read more in a news report by USA Today, August 12, 2016. […]

NATO video - NATO is enhancing security on it's eastern flank with the deployment of four NATO battalions. One each in Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, and Poland.

Video – NATO: Protecting Our Citizens

August 13, 2016 SOF News 0

www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCmQxrUaluc A NATO video about the purpose of the deployment of four NATO battalions to Eastern Europe. One each to Poland, Lithuania, Estonia, and Latvia. The reasoning is to provide a deterrence to possible Russian aggression against any one of […]