Govt to acknowledge Special Forces in public

[Guest]

The Daily Mirror

May 28 2004


THE Government is to speak in public about Britain's special forces for the first time.

The policy change will mean ministers can openly acknowledge the existence of the SAS.

The switch comes amid the growing fame of the crack troops, who have had key roles in conflicts such as those in Afghanistan and Iraq. Ministry of Defence civil servant Sir Kevin Tebbitt tabled the proposal to the MoD's D Notice Committee yesterday.

The ministry has always refused to discuss special forces, citing national security. But a senior military source said: "We cannot go on pretending the SAS don't exist in the modern day of warfare when they so obviously do.

"With all the publicity they have got in the last decade, including dozens of books, the current line has just looked more and more silly." However, he stressed the identities of members of the SAS - full name 22 Special Air Service Regiment - and of sister unit the Royal Navy's Special Boat Service would stay secret.

In the war on terror, the commandos have directly attacked the enemy, provided intelligence on al-Qaeda activities and guided in air strikes

[Doc]

Who? Never heard of them!

Saw a tree with a herefordshire accent brief the OC on exercise once though

[vespa]

when they say that, i m begining to think that they have formed another special service organisation which will remain nameless for the time being.
there is another little known organistaion known as "The Det" which operated in NI and trained by the SAS themselves ,that knowledge is now however is in the public domain so its ok to say it here (No OPSEC/PERSEC issues)

[ono_doken]

is the det also known as Int 14 ?? or am i way off mark here ??

And why the hell on rhubarb and custard sweets do you always get more 'custard' and not so much of the sweet sweet rhubarb!!!!!!!!!

[vespa]

is the det also known as Int 14 ?? or am i way off mark here ??

the one and the same

[jlitt]

What?
In the army lit' i got sent when i applied it lists the SAS as an infantry reg.

[chrisfow]

what would you class them as, jlitt, Cavalry?!

[jlitt]

No right place under Infantry (like you say they are hardly going to be listed as cav). Just it would be strange to list them in a careers booklet if they were not publicly acknowledged to exist by the goverment.