X-Men lead war on terror

[Geezah]

A CRACK squad of battle-hardened “X-Men” has been formed to spearhead Britain’s fight against terror.

The top-secret team is made up of volunteers from the SAS and the SBS who have all seen active service in the Gulf and Afghanistan.

It is known as X Squadron and is led by a highly-decorated SBS officer and an SAS captain. The group, based at Poole, Dorset, began training three weeks ago and will be on 24-hour worldwide alert.

http://www.onpoi.net/ah/pics/users/461_1088516933_0,,2004300157,00.jpg
Terror alert ... Special
Forces soldiers

It is understood to be the first phase of an expansion of Britain’s Special Forces ordered by the Government because of an increased threat to national security.

A military source revealed last night: “These guys have already been dubbed X-Men. They are all volunteers who have agreed to put aside the age-old rivalries that have existed between the SAS and the SBS.

“They will work together, although the SAS guys will continue to wear the winged dagger emblem and the SBS guys will continue to wear their frog emblem.

“Co-operation has not come easy but top brass have ordered it, so it has been forced through.

“The squadron will concentrate on fighting terrorism. There are also plans to send some of the guys to the Gulf for short periods.”

It is understood the unit is currently a dozen men short of its target of 50 and that a second request for volunteers has been issued at the SAS’s Hereford HQ.

An insider explained: “Because it is based at Poole — home of the SBS — it is seen by many as being more their show than an SAS one.

“The attitude at Hereford has been, ‘If we’d wanted to join the SBS, we’d have joined the SBS’.

“X Squadron is likely to remain slightly under-manned for a short time until the SBS can recruit more men from the Royal Marines.”

The Ministry of Defence declined to comment last night. The news comes just days after SAS Sgt Julian Davis was killed in Iraq.


SUN (http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2004300507,00.html)

[Geezah]

the SAS guys will continue to wear the winged dagger emblem

Now why is it I've read that the SAS emblem is the "flaming sword of retribution"?

Any comments on this?

[Geezah]

SAS secrecy under review

http://news.bbc.co.uk/olmedia/1550000/images/_1552242_bigbadge.jpgThe SAS badge, a flaming sword of retribution


The Ministry of Defence is looking at ways of lifting the veil of secrecy surrounding Britain's special forces, the BBC has learned.
The MoD currently refuses to discuss the size, equipment or operations of either the Special Air Service (SAS) or its even more secretive sister force, the Marine's Special Boat Service (SBS).

No serving member ever speaks publicly or is named, and their faces are usually disguised in photographs.

But BBC Radio 4's Today programme has learned that now some, including the Commons Defence Committee, have questioned whether such blanket secrecy can be sustained.

Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon has ordered a senior MoD civil servant to investigate which aspects of the forces' work can be revealed, and how.

Former SAS sergeant Andy McNab told the programme he thought a certain amount of openness would be a "good idea".

"The MoD spends so much money and time and effort keeping everything a secret.

"You can't actually stop this huge barrage of information coming out into the public domain, because it comes from so many other different avenues. It's a system of managing the information."

Afghanistan confusion

He pointed to confusion over British special forces' presence in Afghanistan as a case in point.

"Last November, we had the Ministry of Defence saying there's no special forces activity in Afghanistan, then if you listened to America's briefing they would say yes, there's British special forces there. Certainly that's not a secret."

Andy McNab said there were "no big problems" among special force operatives themselves about greater openness, "as long as it's done sensibly".

"There must be things that have to remain secret... operations, techniques and certainly special forces operators' identification. And obviously anything to do with national security needs to remain a secret."

He added it was "absolute nonsense" that he himself had compromised security with his book Bravo Two Zero, an account of an SAS operation he led during the Gulf War.

Unwanted publicity

Options under review by the MoD could include having an identifiable spokesman, or giving the media more information about deployments.

The MoD said nothing would be changed without the express permission of both services.

Since their inception during World War II both services have had operations which attracted unwanted publicity.

In 1972 the SBS caused a storm after parachuting troops onto the QE2 in response to a bomb threat.

The SAS's most famous operation was carried out in 1980, when in the full glare of television cameras, SAS troops stormed the Iranian embassy in London where terrorists had killed a hostage.

BBC (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/1826652.stm)

[n4292936]

I'd have to agree with McNab on this one. I very much doubt his book breached secrecy rules which actually matter. What needs to remain secret abotu SF is operational techniques and identifications. America seems to have a handle on this. They are able to publicise groups like the Rangers and SEALs while maintaining opsec for all intents and purposes. I dont see the harm in making the brits more open - or the Australians for that matter. In Aus this is already happening to some degree.

[Romulus]

About time these guys join the war on terror.

http://www.kstatecollegian.com/images/050903/xmen.jpg

[usa320]

Sounds similar to TF20.

[seruriermarshal]

That's great , we have more hero !

[UkrainianAmerican]

I would take it with a grain of salt. How are the "differences" going to be put aside overnight?
What about unit cohesion?
Whats the point to begin with, if Britain already got the SAS and SBS?

[Flagg]

I would take it with a grain of salt.

I would take the entire thing with a grain of salt as it seems to be yet more secret squirrel speculation


How are the "differences" going to be put aside overnight?

Not having first hand knowledge of any SAS/SBS differences, I would think that men of that caliber would be least likely to allow interservice rivalry or any other differences to interfere with the job at hand.


What about unit cohesion?

My experience with teams is that the higher the quality of people involved, the longer the time they work together, and the clarity/achievability of their objectives are the 3 most important concerns in developing an effective team.


Whats the point to begin with, if Britain already got the SAS and SBS?

IF there is any truth to it, maybe they are being tasked to perform a very specific role......even James Bond can't do everything ;)

I'm not SF, but I think using the analogy of physicians to describe SF may be relevant.

Every physician receives the same core education/training.

But after that, although many become general practioners(family doctors, where the greatest need usually is) many specialize(cardiology, radiology, oncology, proctology, etc.)

You don't use a proctologist to perform brain surgery....well...at least not on most people ;)

So I would expect as well with SF.......maybe this has something to do with specialization.

Just my speculative .02 pence

Maybe ask Royal....