“Special operations forces have been a favorite national security tool in the post-9/11 era; wars in Afghanistan and Iraq have consumed their attention and kept the special operations community focused on counterterrorism and counterinsurgency missions. However, the release of the 2017 National Security Strategy pivoted the United States’ strategic focus from terrorism to near-peer competitors China and Russia. What will be the role of special operations forces (SOF) in this era of great power competition? Where is SOF falling short in the shift to meet this new focus area?
“Our two guests address these questions and more based on their extensive experience with SOF at the highest levels of the US government: one as the most senior SOF practitioner in the United States military, the other as a leading national security policymaker…”
Listen to the full episode here: