Page 131 - Encyclopedia Of Terrorism

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severely burning four others. Contributing to the
DELTA FORCE disaster were the lack of specialized, dedicated equip-
ment for the mission and the lack of combined train-
Special Forces are military units dedicated to ing for the disparate groups of the rescue team.
small-scale, clandestine, unorthodox, and high-risk Legislators and the military subsequently reassessed
operations, often behind enemy lines. Delta is the and reorganized the Special Forces. In 1987, all Special
U.S. Special Forces unit dedicated to counterterrorist Forces units were placed under a single command (U.S.
activities and hostage rescue operations. Special Operations Command [USSOCOM]), under
Created as the 1st Special Forces Operational the direction of the assistant secretary of defense for
Detachment–Delta under the command of Colonel special operations and low intensity conflict.
Charles Beckwith in 1977, it was highly controversial Delta is currently based at Fort Bragg, North
with some military leaders who were skeptical about Carolina. All members are volunteers from other
the need for an independent counterterrorist unit. The branches of the armed forces. Few candidates make it
support of General Edward C. Meyer was critical to through the selection process, which tests their physi-
Delta’s creation and development. Beckwith, who had cal and mental abilities, military skills, and perfor-
flown long-range clandestine reconnaissance missions mance under pressure. Thought to number no more
inside South Vietnam with Delta Project, looked back than 2,000, the unit maintains low visibility and is
to that experience when naming the unit. Beckwith averse to publicity. Training includes nighttime
used another of his earlier experiences: an exchange hostage rescue from buildings and hijacked planes.
program with the British Special Air Services (SAS) Delta maintains close relationships with foreign coun-
in the early 1960s. While planning the new force, he terterrorist units and has trained Eastern Europe coun-
closely followed SAS selection procedures, training terterrorism units.
methodology, and organization. For greatest flexibil- Delta activities tend to reach the attention of
ity, Beckwith chose an organizational structure based the media mainly when members are killed or some-
on modules of four-man patrols. thing goes wrong in public view. Missions have
Delta engaged in its first operation, Operation included snatching an American businessman from a
Eagle Claw, in April 1980. The aim was to rescue U.S. Panamanian prison, taking part in the invasion of
embassy staff being held hostage in Tehran, Iran. The Grenada, and destroying Scud missile launchers in
mission, conducted in cooperation with other military Iraq during the Gulf War. Delta was present with
units including the Rangers, was a failure; the opera- Army Rangers in Somalia when one Malaysian and
tion was aborted because of mechanical problems 18 American soldiers were killed during a daylight
with helicopters. Later, a helicopter collided with raid in Mogadishu while attempting to arrest lieu-
a transport plane killing eight crew members and tenants of the warlord Aideed. More recently, Delta

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