05-02-2011, 02:33 PM
The operation Eagle Claw disaster was the genesis of JSOC, as the concept of 'joint operations' was not consistent in the Special Operations arena. In fact, inter-service rivalry produced such unusual groups such as 'The Blue Berets'.. an experimental special operations group developed through the US Air Force during Vietnam, that essentially duplicated the US Army's Green Berets (I had a co-worker back in the 80's who served in the Blue Berets... you won't find many references to it on the web).
Also, the rescue of 54 embassy staffers in the middle of a heavily defended and stirred-up capitol city is a significantly different mission from dropping a SEAL Team onto a fortified compound in a suburban area for the purpose of apprehending (or killing) one man.
Say what you like about Carter, but the man was a naval officer. Admittedly he was one of Rickover's squids, and as a nuclear engineer was inculcated in the tradition of technical caution and competence. It's not a surprise that Eagle Claw was aborted after too many helicopters became disabled from FOD (Sandstorm).
Also, the rescue of 54 embassy staffers in the middle of a heavily defended and stirred-up capitol city is a significantly different mission from dropping a SEAL Team onto a fortified compound in a suburban area for the purpose of apprehending (or killing) one man.
Say what you like about Carter, but the man was a naval officer. Admittedly he was one of Rickover's squids, and as a nuclear engineer was inculcated in the tradition of technical caution and competence. It's not a surprise that Eagle Claw was aborted after too many helicopters became disabled from FOD (Sandstorm).