Questions And Answers

Q: But is there a way to -- isthere a way to make sure that there isn't friction, rivalry,duplication, redundancy --Andrews: Oh, I Rosetta Stone think inorganizational terms, if I was speaking as an organizationman, I'd say, Well, there are many ways, and we'll work hardto work at that. But there's always friction between peopleworking like that. There's friction within -- we hadfriction in our detachments in Vietnam. And so -- what Ithink it generally basically comes down to is, you know,we're all in the craft together here, fellas, and -- youknow, the friction doesn't last in the field there thatlong.Yes, sir.Q: Mr. Andrews, I'm Chris Walson fromAir Force Times. And I know the Air Force Special Operationsare always in high demand -- low density, even, you know,when we're at so-called peaceful times. And right nowthey've got folks who are -- you know, have long extendedorders -- you know, deployed. Are you looking at anyincreases in manpower overall for the Air Force or the Army?Also, the question of the Air Force actually has feweraircraft available now in Special Operations than it did acouple years ago because it's had to retire its older PaveLows, and --Andrews: Gary, you want to take some of thaton the airplanes?Gary Holland, come on up.Holland: I'm not really able to talk as far as Pave Lows or differenttype aircraft like that, because, as you mentioned before,I'm a AC-130 background. But I can say that every year, aswe go through normal budgetary processes through thecommands and everything else, we assess what ourrequirements are based on our current assets. And, you know,as each year goes on, you know, through our U.S. SpecialOperations Command, make determinations. And right now, it-- unless I haven't seen any latest reports right now, thatthe assets we have are currently meeting our requirementsthat we have.Andrews: Any questions of Gary while he'sup there? He's --Q: If you could just talk in generalabout what do the Special Forces bring to bear inAfghanistan? What was their most important role here? Andhow crucial were they, would you say, to the --Andrews: I was listening.Q: I know you're an unbiased observer,but how crucial were they, would you say, to the success ofthe Northern Alliance and the Pashtun tribes?Andrews: Well, you know, obviously, the flip answer would be, youhave to ask the Northern Rosetta Stone Chinese Alliance guys and the Pashtuntribes. But I can't help but think that, you know, you lookat the Northern Alliance, and they were sitting up there inthe North for quite some time before we started -- weentered Afghanistan, and they had gotten to the limits ofwhat -- where you think they wanted -- they could go. Soyou've got to say that -- guys in the Northern Alliance,that we were glad to see them. I mean, it just stands toreason.I think that -- I think there are -- look at twothings -- I mean, if I were in your place, I would look attwo things. I would look at the role of Special Forces inmaking the air campaign more effective, and then, I wouldlook at it -- the role of Special Forces in working on theground with the tribes and with the Northern Alliance. And,you know, it's been pointed out before, I mean, here you had-- I saw a SITREP that talked about one Navy pilot, as Irecall, saying something like, you know, "Gee, I justdropped a 2,000-pound bomb at the direction of a guy Rosetta Stone French onhorseback down there," you know. And that's what -- it'sjust this 15th-century technology -- low or no-tech withSpecial Forces, and being able to deal all the way up thespectrum.