The Iraqi Special Operations Forces (ISOF) are proving their worth and showing the incredible work done by Special Forces. The ISOF was in real danger of losing its effectiveness, because we left them hanging, as a nation.

The result of our abandonment was a hopeless, not hopeful Iraq. The warfighters felt that hopelessness. The mission was lost, and the Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) knew just enough not to function. Iraqis knew about bureaucracy and organizing itself to allow corruption to run rampant.  They effectively held themselves back in paperwork and became a giant slow moving machine. Are you proud of that Uncle Sam?

I saw firsthand the unfortunate direction of the ISOF after the war. It was sad then, and the state of the Middle East remains so today. It was frustrating at the time, and we felt bad for the Iraqis. It was all beyond our control but, we could maintain our rapport and help however we could in an honest manner.

However, there is some hope. The ISOF is making gains and doing well on some fronts.  The Iraqi Counter Terrorism Forces (ICTF), within the ISOF, were called the “dirty brigade,” for a while. Now, they’re the “golden division.” They aren’t taking back the country in one gunfight. But they’re the only ones getting the job done. ISOF winning on the battlefield means a lot. The victories symbolize what Foreign Internal Defense (FID) can bring to a nation at war within its borders.