article_snippet.sent: If you want to understand one of the reasons that terrorism has been allowed to spread, it is that the majority of its partners do not have credible and capable special operations forces to respond to and defeat the current threat -- and our're not doing nearly enough to address the problem.
article_snippet.sent: The 2015 National Security Strategy speaks to the importance of American-led partnerships, while the 2014 Quadrennial Defense Review noted that we "will rebalance we counterterrorism efforts toward greater emphasis on building partnership capacity.
article_snippet.sent: It takes years to build special operations forces with credible capabilities.
article_snippet.sent: This program, as well as the recent U.S. mission to support our Filipino partners against Abu Sayyaf, demonstrates the power of a persistent presence by U.S. Special Forces when coupled with long-term funding and true interagency cooperation.
article_snippet.sent: With all this in mind, it is clearly time for Congress to step in and develop a dedicated program that builds out special operations in key nations to help bring the fight to the violent extremists in their own backyards.
article_snippet.sent: But with competent and capable partners who are interoperable with other special operations forces and law enforcement, we can start to make progress.
article_snippet.sent: It goes without saying that special operations forces are not a panacea for defeating terrorism, the causes of which are complex and diverse.
article_snippet.sent: But having credible special operations forces is a great first step.
article_snippet.sent: And for many of our partner nations, the special operations capability our give many of our partner nations may be the best chance many of our partner nations have at protecting many of our partner nations populations from extremists at home.
highlights_snippet.sent: Meaghan Keeler-Pettigrew, Stuart Bradin: U.S. must rethink special forces .
  