Detachment Delta

by Don Bendell

  In actuality, no expense was spared for Detachment-Delta operators. They had a wide variety of weapons and aircraft at their disposal, as well as the latest in military technology such as “Smart Dust,” which is comprised of thousands of small particles that are actually microchip transmitters and which are sprinkled on vehicles and even clothing belonging to members of al Qaeda, Hamas, and other terrorist groups. The particles look like harmless large pieces of sand or industrial dust, but each one transmits a radio beeping signal which can be used to follow whatever they are on by UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) or drone flying high above and out of sight and hearing, or the signal can be picked up by other vehicles with a receiver. Many terrorists have become martyrs in the Global War on Terrorism or led U.S. specops forces to terrorist leaders inadvertently because of Smart Dust.

  The technology behind Smart Dust is similar to that of stuff like smart cards (EZ Pass, etc.) and the tiny little grain-sized tracking devices people have injected into their pets. Smart Dust, however, is even more revolutionary in that it is small enough to be disguised as dirt, the kind someone might pick up on shoes or clothing. Actually, each little MEM (memory) or bit of Smart Dust is given a unique serial number that, when hit with an “interrogation signal” from either troops on the ground or aircraft overhead, like the UAV already mentioned, broadcasts a signal back. Several very advanced forms of Smart Dust are in use in Iraq and Afghanistan, almost exclusively by 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta. It was actually Smart Dust that played a very significant role in the locating of and ultimate death of Iraqi al Qaeda leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. In this case, an agent recruited by Detachment-Delta was able to sprinkle some Smart Dust on Zarqawi’s clothing, and then he was simply tracked down with great precision. Iraqis and Afghanis have long feared what they refer to as “magic dust.” Most Iraqi, Afghani, and Iranian terrorists have a tendency to exaggerate American capabilities, especially regarding technology, so Davood constantly had his clothes and vehicles cleaned.

  “According to our research, Davood Faraz Dabdeh travels continuously,” Charlie said. “I suggest that at each location he appears we sprinkle his vehicles with Smart Dust, on a continuing basis so we can track him. Even when he washes the vehicles down, you know that some MEMs will stay in a few cracks and hiding places.”

  Rozanski felt the whole Smart Dust thing was just too Star Wars for his feelings, so after a long silence and pouting period, he finally spoke up again. “How can this Smart Dust be delivered regularly without detection?”

  “Rotor UAVs,” Fila replied.

  “What is that?”

  Pops opened his briefcase and pulled out a written paper and tossed it down in front of Rozanski.

  He said, “Does anybody else need to know what that is?”

  One other did not know what it was but did not want to admit it. Fila glanced over at Kerri Rhodes to see if she raised her hand, then she got embarrassed about even looking.

  Rozanski started reading about just one group of rotor-type unmanned aerial vehicles, also called “rotorcraft.” This group, constructed by Tactical Aerial Vehicles or TAG, featured a variety of military-type rotorcrcaft, including one which could fly at 102 miles per hour, had a gross tactical weight over 1,400 pounds, carried over a 550-pound payload, and had a flight ceiling well over 10,000 feet.

  The retired general said, “Colonel, does Delta Force use this aircraft?”

  Pops grinned and said, “No, we don’t, General, but it gives you an idea of one of the types of delivery vehicles we can use. We have one that is more like a Stealth and can fly under silent mode and is barely heard even getting down close to the ground in altitude. We can fly these in from ships and even small boats on the bodies of water bordering Iran, or from the mountains, or even from several spots out in the desert, then fly them back for refueling and maintenance.”

  “What kind of rotary UAV does Delta Force use?” the general queried.

  “Now, General Rozanski,” Pops replied, “that is not really important. You do not really have a need-to-know, but knowing that one of them will be our delivery vehicle for Smart Dust is enough.”

  Well, that settled that, Charlie’s grin told Fila. Pops was going with their suggested means of keeping up-to-date surveillance on the ruthless terrorist. Through the studies of his habits, Charlie and Fila had become concerned because Dabdeh was so security conscious, he was to the point of being paranoid. They felt that, with bribe money and their wits, they could cross several of the border areas into Iran without too much trouble, but once there, they still had the challenge of arranging a meet with Davood Faraz Dabdeh. That was going to be the real challenge.

  On top of that, besides meeting with him and killing him, they also had the challenge of getting past his many layers of security to both get to him and kill him and get out of Iran without death or capture. Their fingerprints and DNA could possibly be used to identify them as members of the U.S. military, which would prove very embarrassing for Washington, to say the least. Even worse, it would become a very effective propaganda tool for Tehran to use worldwide against the United States. Charlie and Fila both could envision headlines speaking about secret Delta Force commandos killed in an elaborate infiltration and assassination plot in Iran, which was effectively uncovered by the Elite Republican Guard forces.

  Charlie explained all this and said they really had to plan and figure out how to attract Dabdeh into their trap, plus figure out an effective plan not only for execution but exfiltration from the country.

  Charlie and Fila were facing a very complex problem. Specifically, 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta and the army specops community stated, regarding direct action missions:

  Short-duration strikes and other small-scale offensive actions conducted as a special operation in hostile, denied, or politically sensitive environments and which employ specialized military capabilities to seize, destroy, capture, exploit, recover, or damage designated targets. Direct action differs from conventional offensive actions in the level of physical and political risk, operational techniques, and the degree of discriminate and precise use of force to achieve specific objectives.

  All specops units engaging in a direct action mission, when proceeding to the mission or infiltrating the enemy ground while dressed in civilian attire, were required to wear U.S. military unit patches on their civilian clothing and to have the patch covered by black tape. This tape had to be yanked off before actually engaging hostile forces. But Charlie and Fila knew that if they were captured, Iran couldn’t care less about the protective tenets of the Geneva Convention. They would wear no patches or anything to identify them as Americans. They both knew that if they were caught, both would be gang-raped and sodomized; her breasts would be sliced off, as would his penis and testes. They would probably have their eyes gouged out, their ears, arms, and maybe even legs cut off, before finally being beheaded. They both had seen top secret photos of civilian contractors, usually retired Green Berets and Navy SEALs who had been hacked up this way on the roads in Pakistan, while searching for Osama bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahiri. They always had signs hanging on them written in Pashtun or Arabic, warning that this would happen to any and all infidels who came looking for jihadists in the tribal areas.

  Charlie and Fila lived in the real world. Fila had grown up in that seventh-century mind-set and laughed whenever she heard newscasters or the politically ultra liberals who felt that Americans, Europeans, or Israelis would be spared terrorist reprisal if they would simply be kind and loving toward any and all Muslims, ascribing Western morality and values to those jihadists who honestly believed they would go to Heaven and be richly rewarded if they killed an American, a Christian, or a Jew, and most especially if they first tortured the victim for the glory of Allah. They did not understand at all the concept of Dar el Islam, the “Nation of Islam,” with no borders but simply world domination. They had no clue how those in al Qaeda and other terrorist groups like Dabdeh’s, Ha
mas, the PLO, and similar, had totally bastardized the religion of Islam for their own selfish and savage ends.

  They both knew they need not wear a unit badge, as they simply could not be captured. To that end, they also knew that, before leaving, they both would be given cyanide capsules. The United States of America, which they both had written a blank check to, payable up to and including the sacrifice of their own lives, had to be protected. If capture was imminent, both would quickly put the cyanide pills in their mouths, bite down, and swallow. In short order, they would begin breathing very deeply and then would go to short, rapid breaths, then convulsions, unconsciousness, and death. The alternative, which Fila did not know about, was that Charlie would shoot her behind the ear, killing her instantly, and then would jam the pistol up under his own chin, aiming toward the upper back part of his head, and pull the trigger. These were very grisly scenarios for both to consider, but it went with their jobs, and both took great pride in being the best in the world.

  Weasel said, “Ladies and gents, this would be a good time to look at a successful Delta Force operation. It was Operation Just Cause in Panama in December of 1989. I was lucky enough to be involved. One major portion of the bigger operation revolved around Kurt Muse, a single American citizen who the bad guys thought was a CIA agent. Detachment-Delta had to mount a difficult operation to rescue him, and sometimes he made the rescue even more difficult.

  “Muse served in the U.S. Army and spent time in Panama, and he liked it and the people, so he returned there. His wife worked as a schoolteacher. Kurt sold printing, copying, and graphic arts equipment throughout all of Central America, not just Panama. As he got more involved, and his wife taught more, he got really frustrated at the actions of General Manuel Noriega and the PDF, the Panamanian Defense Force, and their oppression of the Panamanians.

  “Muse and a group of five Panamanians began broadcasting anti-Noriega messages, jamming Panama radio stations and overpowering the broadcasts with their own stronger signal. This got the attention of the people of Panama but also the folks at the CIA, ’cause they had all kinds of people in Panama at the time monitoring everything. We used to joke that you could tell CIA agents there, because they had brown suits, spoke fluent Spanish, wore spit-shined low quarters, and had flat-top haircuts.”

  Everyone in the room laughed at this, with a few shaking their heads picturing some they had known in specops who retired, went into intel, and just never made the transition.

  Weasel continued, “The CIA thought the radio broadcasts were a great idea, and had planned to help Muse broadcast overtop of Noriega’s major speech to the nation, when the most citizens would be watching and listening. They supplied him with the radio equipment to jam the signal or actually overpower it. This would be a major coup for our psyops and counterintelligence efforts.

  “Muse waited until a key time in the introduction of President Manuel Noriega when it would cause the most impact, and he played a prerecorded propaganda speech.

  “Wooey! Old Noriega was one pissed-off El Presidente. It went off so well, the Panamanian government and the PDF went nuts. They immediately blamed the United States, too.”

  Weasel took a large drink of coffee and continued. “Then Muse kept it up for a few more months, until they finally arrested him, tortured him, made him listen or watch others being tortured, and so on. They held him at the police headquarters downtown but finally moved him to the Carcel Modelo (Model Prison), an old prison that contained over a thousand inmates but was made to house maybe two hundred to two hundred fifty. Muse had an eight-by-twelve cell and adjoining bathroom, and he had one small window. The prison was not one building but was actually a small fort.

  “Because of pressure by our government, we were finally able to get people in to see him a few times, and we then knew that in nine months he had lost over fifty pounds, so we had to get him out quickly, but we planned and prepared like we are doing now. We planned here and also at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida. We made models, mock-ups, you name it.

  “We were working with the 160th Special Operations Aviation Group, and also had two Spectre AC-130 gunships from the 1st Special Operations Wing. The Little Birds were our lifeline on that mission, and the Blackhawk was our command and control ship. Some of us got bloodied up and even got shot down in our Little Bird with Muse after we rescued him, but the operation was really a success for 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta. We had to blow our way through the roof, but we took out the killer guard and some others, pulled off the operation, and got the hell out of Dodge. You can all read the after-action report on it.

  “The important point is, we even made mock-up buildings to practice the operation, and we kept it small as far as inclusion of planning and tactical personnel, and as always on a need-to-know basis. Delta Force did it right that day. Colonel, the one point I want to make is, we know Poke and Booty will be on their own and thinking on their feet, but as far as my vote, I cannot tell you how important the Little Birds, Spectre, and Blackhawk were to the success of our operation. I personally feel we must have an effective QRF ready to come in if they yell for the cavalry,” he said, referring to a quick reaction force, “and we have to have aircraft in the neighborhood to bail these two out if need be. The rescue of Kurt Muse was the very first big public success for Detachment-Delta, and this one will be a major victory, too, although this one has to stay out of the news.”

  Custer was ushered in with the rest of Charlie’s team and they were introduced by nicknames, and it was stated they would be the QRF for Charlie and Booty if the pair got into serious trouble.

  Now it had to be determined how the QRF could get in. Several scenarios were suggested.

  Finally, Pops spoke out. “I think it is imperative that we move them into a staging area in the desert. We have to have them close enough to be able to strike quickly if needed, but out far enough to not be spotted.”

  Rozanski quickly spoke up, his jowls quivering with indignation. “That is preposterous! How can you possibly get aircraft into Iran undetected?”

  Pops said, “The same way we already have plenty of times, General. We can take them into Iran by land or by air and can stage outside Tehran or other major cities undetected. We most definitely have that capability. How do you suppose we got pictures of Iranian nuclear facilities development in varying stages?”

  The general stared at Pops a moment then said, “You mean Delta Force has gone into Iran to take reconnaissance photos?”

  “Need-to-know, General Rozanski.”

  “How can you possibly get helicopters into Iran undetected, especially close to a place like Tehran?” Rozanski said a little indignantly.

  “I am sorry, General.” Pops grinned. “But again, that is on a need-to-know basis.”

  Now definitely indignant, Rozanski said, “Colonel, I have a need-to-know. I am part of the planning of this operation.”

  Pops said, “Excuse me there, Mr. Rozanski, but you have been part of the preop planning, and your expertise is the G2 capability, but you are not part of the execution of the operation phase. You need only be concerned with us planning to take aircraft in there. You do not have a need-to-know how we will do it.”

  “I do not appreciate being called Mr. Rozanski, Colonel. I am General Rozanski,” the retired flag officer said angrily.

  “No, if we are being technical, you are Major General Rozanski,” Pops said, jaw jutting forward in his best imitation of former Steelers coach Bill Cowher, “but when I allow you around my command and in my facility, I expect you to conduct yourself like a flag officer and speak to me and to my people with respect and a sense of cooperation. You visit this facility at my pleasure, General. So let’s say we try a do-over.”

  Charlie tapped Fila with his knee, and she tried to suppress a grin. Custer shot him a knowing glance across the big conference table and flashed him a hand sign as if grabbing his testes as he glanced at Pops. Charlie grinned. Then he heard Fila chortle almost aloud,
and he and Custer realized she had seen the interchange.

  Rozanski was speechless and gave Pops a half nod, and Pops embarrassed the man further by saying, “Good. I am glad we can get along and make things work.”

  The rest of the afternoon was spent briefing the quick reaction force for Operation Angry Godfather, which it was now called, a name created by Weasel for the famous movie.

  A C-130J Super Hercules aircraft would be used to transport the backup team to a point in the desert where they would be hidden, capable of flying into Iran at several points, where technology had shown the aircraft could actually fly under the radar screen. This would be aided by an AWACS aircraft jamming Iranian security when the flight came in. The C-130J Super Hercules would transport the seven-man QRF team as well as three Little Bird specops helicopters, which would be off-loaded on the desert floor, and made flight-ready in fifteen minutes’ time.

  Additionally, a much larger quick reaction force of Army Rangers would be standing by at Fire Base Glory at Mosul Air Base in northern Iraq, from where all aircraft would fly out. It was decided that because there was so much air activity in Iraq, it would not be the likely place for the U.S. to strike Iran from. Additionally, Tactical Air flying missions over Iraq would be available for prioritized diversion if a major strike would need to be put in to support any problem arising out of Operation Angry Godfather. The government of Iran was constantly looking for Stealth-type jet strikes from the U.S. or Israel on their nuclear processing facilities, so they were watching for jets to come in over one of the sea areas, Dubai, or Kuwait, but believed they would be less likely coming from Iraq or Afghanistan.

  Getting in and out undetected and having the quick reaction force deployable was critical, so having the three Little Birds standing by in the desert along with the quick reaction force was the only way the President would allow the operation to continue. If an international incident occurred, he said he would take the heat. He made it clear that he wanted this team to have the best aircraft and equipment available to accomplish the mission. Pops said that besides the C-130J Super Hercules, he also wanted an AC-130U Spooky “on station,” flying just outside Iranian airspace, since it did not have the short jet-assisted takeoff capability of its less-armed brother, the C-130J Super Hercules.