Five Takeaways About the Culture of Lawlessness in the U.S. Special Forces

Five Takeaways About the Culture of Lawlessness in the U.S. Special Forces

In Afghanistan, during the United States’ longest war, special operators like the Green Berets shouldered a disproportionate share of the fighting. At home, they were held up as heroes for their highly publicized exploits. But behind the glory, there was a dark side the public did not see: a culture of rule-breaking that led to war crimes and, eventually, a vigilante ethos openly embraced by leaders at home. This troubling history has been shrou…

NYT Investigation Finds Green Berets Cleared Despite Evidence in Afghan Detainee Deaths

An investigation by The New York Times reveals that U.S. Army Special Forces operators were accused of killing at least nine Afghan detainees in 2012, but were cleared of wrongdoing despite evidence suggesting their involvement. The report, published by journalist Matthieu Aikins, documents events at Combat Outpost Nerkh in Wardak Province, where members of Operational Detachment Alpha 3124 from the Third Special Forces Group’s First Battalion o…