Spec-ops leader stresses role of local forces
General urges joint operations with Iraqi, Afghan troops
By Kelly Kennedy
Times staff writer
AMMAN, Jordan — Brig. Gen. Frank Kearney, speaking to an international gathering of special operations commanders, emphasized the importance of “integrating U.S. special operations with our partners in the [Central Command] region in order to fight against terrorism.”
Kearney, CentCom commander of U.S. Special Forces, said Iraqi and Afghan forces have the key advantage of knowing the area and local customs, whereas U.S. troops can alarm local residents.
Kearney made his comments March 27 at the 2006 Special Operations Forces Exhibition and Conference.
Kearney noted the use of U.S. Special Forces as global scouts, more of a police force doing detective work than their traditional roles.
He also said that while “exploiting” information and suspects is vitally important, just as valuable is teaching local forces ways for them to do it themselves.
He mentioned the search for U.S. Army Sgt. Keith “Matt” Maupin to point out an example of a joint-forces operation that utilized exploitation of information and people.
Successful cooperation
Shortly after Maupin was taken hostage April 9, 2004, several major media outlets aired footage of Iraqis celebrating the attack on Maupin’s convoy.
The Joint Interrogation and Debriefing Center obtained those clips and identified the people in them.
It then worked with Iraqi special forces to go after 13 targets with 500 joint-force soldiers Jan. 10, 2005.
“They were highly successful in this operation,” Kearney said. He stressed that though joint forces came in contact with 300 people during the operation, they held only 25 detainees after screening about 100 people.
Joint forces then went to a potential burial site of an American contractor. The body had been moved, but the troops found U.S. equipment at the site, including weapons.
The commandos also conducted sensitive site exploitation.
“We turned that information over to the Joint Interrogation and Debriefing Center for further exploitation,” Kearney said. However, Maupin remains missing.
Kearney said U.S. Special Forces are working to teach Iraqi and Afghan forces the following:
• Humans are more important than hardware.
• Special operations forces cannot be mass produced.
• Competent special operations forces cannot be created after emergencies occur.
;The Associated Press and Defense News staff writer Greg Grant contributed to this report.