SOFIC NEWS: Commander Sees New Era of ‘Cognitive Conflict’ for Special Operators

[rangerrebew]

SOFIC NEWS: Commander Sees New Era of ‘Cognitive Conflict’ for Special Operators
5/18/2021
By Stew Magnuson

The withdrawal of the U.S. military from Afghanistan later this year will mark the beginning of a new era for Special Operations Forces.

“Shortly we'll be bringing forces out of Afghanistan after almost 20 years,” said Special Operations Command Commander Army Gen. Richard Clarke. “SOCOM was the first forces in and we'll be the last forces out. I don't necessarily see this as the end of an era, but instead as part of the new one that is full of opportunity for all of us."

Incidents such as the recent cyberattack on the Colonial Pipeline along with daily Russian disinformation campaigns and “Chinese activities globally” will challenge U.S. national security and reorient SOF to strategic competition, Clarke said May 18 during the National Defense Industrial Association's virtual Special Operations Forces Industry Conference.

Nations seeking competitive advantages is nothing new, he said. It’s the tools they are using that is changing, he added.

https://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/articles/2021/5/18/commander-sees-new-era-of-cognitive-conflict-for-special-operators

[rangerrebew]

This general's "cognitive conflict" is really a plagarism of a theory by a guy named Festinger.  Festinger held until there is "cognitive dissonance" people will not change.  And what is dissonance but a change of thought created by some belief not being in accord with what one believes and this is how people accept change.  This explanation has been way simplified but I wonder why the general felt he had to plagarize Festinger's theory?  Be that as it may, there is definitely some major change coming to the SOF.

[rangerrebew]

https://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/articles/2021/5/18/special-operations-command-cuts-funding-for-c4-office

Funding being cut.

https://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/articles/2021/5/18/special-operators-deploying-to-us-tech-hubs

Changing their assignments and separating them.

Some change is in the air.