ABSTRACT
This chapter addresses the development and employment of special operations forces. It focuses on unfolding mission portfolio of special operations forces and what that tell about their possible roles in future operations. The point of departure is an analysis of development of special operations forces, their use, composition and significance, since their origin during World War II and until operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. Defeat of the Taliban regime in Afghanistan in late 2001 was in large measure the result of unorthodox operations by small contingents of US and coalition special operations forces acting in collaboration with local guerrillas. In the future, special operations forces will 'increasingly conduct operations short of war that are more indirect and less kinetic to confront a variety of interconnected, cross-border challenges to include: localizing and defeating VEN (Violent Extremist Networks) across number of continents, waging long-duration influence campaigns and proxy competitions in multiple regions and key states, and interdicting WMD (Weapons of Mass Destruction)'.
