Special Forces Enter CIA Territory With a New Weapon

[seemslikeadream]

The Pentagon gains the power to let elite troops give millions in cash or arms to foreign fighters.

By Greg Miller, Times Staff Writer

WASHINGTON — Moving into an area of clandestine activity that has traditionally been the domain of the CIA, the Pentagon has secured new authority that allows American special operations forces to dole out millions of dollars in cash, equipment and weapons to international warlords and foreign fighters.

Under the new policy, the U.S. Special Operations Command will have as much as $25 million a year to spend providing "support to foreign forces, irregular forces, groups or individuals" aiding U.S. efforts against terrorists and other targets. Previously, military units were prohibited from providing money or arms to foreign groups.

Pentagon officials said the new capability was crucial in the war on terrorism, enabling America's elite soldiers to buy off tribal leaders or arm local militias while pursuing Al Qaeda operatives and confronting other threats.

But the idea of entrusting soldiers with a job traditionally reserved for spies has raised concerns that the program might lead to abuse. Even those who support it say they worry that it could be used to fund and arm unsavory foreign elements that might later use their U.S.-provided weapons and equipment against American interests.

"In the right circumstances, like Iraq and Afghanistan, this makes sense," said one congressional official who spoke on condition of anonymity. "In the wrong circumstances it could lead us into some pretty bad stuff."


http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-forces31oct31,0,5713500.story?coll=la-home-headlines

[DS1]

1. I want those tax dollars in MY pocket, not some scumfuck 'warlord'

that gives some idiot SF troops enough lip service to cash in, get weapons and supplies, and bail.

Fuck you, Booosh!

[sattahipdeep]

2. Taxation without Representation. n/t

[debatepro]

3. Fund the next OBL

nice call idiots.

[punpirate]

4. Our government, unfortunately, has...

... always placed too much faith in the power of money (guess that's a consequence in always placing too much faith in raw, naked capitalism), and we've often paid for it down the road (one need only look at the imbroglios surrounding Noreiga and the Shah of Iran to understand that).

Spreading that philosophy even further--that loyalty can be bought--is sure to bring more misery down the road. *sigh*

[Cerridwen]

5. Could we PLEASE furnish OUR OWN TROOPS needs First?!

Body armor, truck armor, unadulterated fuel, more money for our troops currently active, more money for future troops! Clean food, clean water!




:mad:

[crossroads]

9. Hear Hear!! nt

:bounce:

[Media_Lies_Daily]

6. We've been using these tactics since the end of WWII...

...why is this a surprise to anyone now?

[DrZhivago]

7. SF troops are the smartest, most trained out of all services

and are the first to be recruited into the CIA anyways. I think its ok to give them that authorization. I would be more worried about them scamming the military out of millions than actually some warlord somewhere getting the money. It is true however that bin laden started outr as one of these warlords the CIA armed and funded.

[pschoeb]

8. Yipee! more blowback, and kickback corruption

nt

[sofa king]

10. I think the Bush White House has been bypassing the CIA since 2001

Sorry, no citations, just word on the street. I futher suspect that the Office of Special Plans has weilded this authority since its inception.

[tinanator]

11. they know what they did with those "missing weapons"

I cant believe anyone isnt pointing to the likeliest explanation for those 100's of tons of weapons disappearing. Just a continued pattern of illegal arms transactions that have gone on for decades under these motherfuckers. What kind of country are we to accept unequal protection under the law?

[ElsewheresDaughter]

12. eat that freepers!!!!!!!!! HA!

[StupidFOX]

13. So it's Iran-Contra, legalized?