Temporary Duty Assignments. I came across the video below on TickeTheWire.com and recognized some faces. The FBI's role in Afghanistan has been evolving since 9/11. Last year they cancelled a program referred to in the Bureau as the "embedded" program, where FBI SWAT operators were paired with Hostage Rescue Team (HRT) members and embedded with Special Forces groups. The idea was that after the SF guys did their work, Special Agents would be there to gather evidence, assist with interviews, etc. I don't know if the program was halted due to changes in the overall U.S. role, or because of some incidents where...well...the military does what the military does, and law enforcement does what law enforcement does - and they don't always go well together (...you know, like chocolate and peanut butter). I think the troops liked it, I don't think the higher-ups did. (A law enforcement officer has to account for every round he fires - whereas in the military...its just different).
1 comment:
One of my best friends was Special Agent in Charge in Baghdad. I think the FBI had a place there - but they stayed in the Green Zone for the most part. It wasn't an HRT style mission.
While I am one of those people who believes (as does SPETZNAZ) that special operators need to have kills under their belt to become effective journeyman...killers, that's not the law enforcement mission.
Using an "evidence collection mission" as an excuse to embed makes no sense to me. I'm sure there is a contractor fraud mission and there may be a need to have special agents there to conduct felony investigations on base(?) But as a taxpayer, it looks like a bit like a boondoggle. Frustrated HRT agents who always wanted to be SPECOPS want to get some trigger time and enhance their resumes.
If the FBI is howling for more people, they can always bring those guys back and put them into an RA. The FBI did not originate as a non-uniformed military service the way the CIA did and it's a long stretch to suggest that the FBI has a legitimate paramilitary mission.
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