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Continued force expansion is the only way to solve the global shortfalls caused by high demand for U.S. special operations troops in the Middle East, a senior Pentagon adviser says.

In addition to those unmet demands, said Michael Vickers, assistant secretary of defense for special operations, low-intensity conflict and interdependent capabilities, the concentration of special operators in the Middle East has the effect of diluting the skill levels of some of those personnel, who would normally be assigned to other parts of the world and using different languages and tactics. ...
 

... That level of demand is not expected to decrease, even in the face of “significant demand” elsewhere, he said. The latter needs are being only partially met, he indicated, underlining the necessity for growth.

“To build a global counterterrorism network of persistent presence rather than episodic presence, we’re going to need more special operators,” Vickers said.