Special Ops vs. Fedayeen

Al Jazeera has another interesting article today about the use of non-uniformed troops by both sides. They attempt to equate the coalition Special Ops guys with the Fedayeen on a tactics level (they don't approach the moral equivalency question). They correctly point out that both organizations use deceit and deception to approach their target without being detected. Both groups wear civilian clothes in carrying out their missions. And they basically ask why it's OK for the coalition to do so, but not for the Iraqis.

At first glance, my reaction was along the lines of "they might be right." I had to take a few minutes to examine the differences to find why one tactic is legit while the other is illegal. I was about to get really ticked at the military for being grossly hypocritical.

But then it hit, while both sides use deception, the goals are different. And the goal makes the difference in the legitimacy.

Coalition Special Ops use deception to get close enough to gather intelligence, to plant explosives to go off later, or to illuminate a target for someone in uniform to attack. They are essentially acting in the roles of spies during these missions. They are not looking to directly attack a military formation or group of enemy soldiers. During those operations where the will directly take on the enemy (rescue missions, etc.) they do wear uniforms.

The Fedayeen, on the other hand, use deceit and deception to directly attack our military men. If they are operating under the control of the Iraq military command structure, that would be a violation of the Geneva Conventions. If they are locally organized and controlled, it would not be a violation (but the prisoners taken would not be POWs and would not be subject to the Geneva Convention -just like our Special Ops guys wouldn't be if captured out of uniform).

I've always felt the Fedayeen attacks were controlled and directed by the Iraqi military command and were therefore a form of fighting dirty. I had never even thought about the possibility of someone being able to question our Special Ops. Every once in a while it’s good to occasionally re-examine deep held beliefs, even when you know that they’re right.