# What does the SAS do? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 25, 2001, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-sas-do/83720 "2001-09-25T16:32:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2001, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-sas-do/83720/41 "2001-09-26T00:45:48Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by manhattan \* > \*\*For the purposes of this message board, until **Sorbust** posts some evidence, he is in fact making it up from whole cloth. > . \*\* I believe this comment is undeserved. Storbust didn’t made up anything, since we’re still waiting for the fact he intends to make up… ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2001, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-sas-do/83720/42 "2001-09-26T03:46:32Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by xanakis \* > **Bin Laden’s boys aren’t afraid to die because they think that they’ll go to paradise.** I don’t know if the SAS includes snipers but my guess is they do (and if they don’t I’m sure the British and American armies have some lying about somewhere). A vaguely recollected memory of something I once read (perhaps here on this board but a quick search didn’t turn it up) said that sniper action is VERY demoralizing to an army. It is very tough on moral when an officer drops dead during morning roll-call in front of his troops and the troops can’t figure out where in the hell the shot came from. After a few of those officers tend to get a bit twitchy as well (can’t blame them). I have a feeling that even the promise of paradise won’t help moral in this case. ---
**Author:** ![Spavined\_Gelding](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/958977/32.png) [@Spavined\_Gelding](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spavined_Gelding)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2001, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-sas-do/83720/43 "2001-09-26T05:18:56Z")
It’s not so much that the officer doing the morning formation dropping dead that causes morale trouble, it’s when his head bursts in a fine spray of blood, brain and bone fragments. The primary function of sniping is to convince the enemy that no place is safe and to disrupt operations. It is a very nasty business. Captured snipers are unlikely to make it to the POW compound. The line grunt regards the enemy’s snipers as a particularly vile form of common murderer. ---
**Author:** ![puk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ea5d25/32.png) [@puk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puk)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2001, 8:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-sas-do/83720/44 "2001-09-26T08:09:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by China Guy \* > Richard Marcinko, author of Rogue Warrior, was originally a UDT frogman, became a SEAL, earned several bronze stars and a silver star in Nam, later commanded Seal two and formed the covert, anti-terrorist SEAL Team 6. With SEAL Team 6, they trained with a lot of counter parts and he had this to say: > > “I respected them all – the British SAS, the French GIGN, the Italian GIS, the Norwegian Special Ops combat swimmers; they were all first-rate. But the unit to which we probably felt closest was Germany’s Grenzschutzgruppe-9 (GSG-9).” man, I don’t care what the experts say. Anyone who can write a book like the [SAS Survival Handbook](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0002171856/qid=1001491372/sr=2-2/ref=sr_8_7_2/002-5934233-2349633) is the best damned special forces unit in the world. Bar none. ---
**Author:** ![Moonshine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5e9695/32.png) [@Moonshine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonshine)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2001, 9:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-sas-do/83720/45 "2001-09-26T09:02:24Z")
The SAS camouflaged their Land Rovers in the Sudan and Aiden by painting them pink, which apparantly made them harder to see, hence the reference to ‘Pink Panthers’. Gotta respect any unit that can drive around in pink cars and not get their asses kicked. ---
**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2001, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-sas-do/83720/46 "2001-09-26T13:27:06Z")
I remember having seen a documentary about a training center in South-America (Brazil? Peru?) where special forces from various countries were trained for jungle operations, and apparently even them thought this training was particulary hard. Does someone know where it is situated? ---
**Author:** ![bryanmaguire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d07c76/32.png) [@bryanmaguire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bryanmaguire)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2001, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-sas-do/83720/47 "2001-09-26T13:48:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by clairobscur \* > \*\*I remember having seen a documentary about a training center in South-America (Brazil? Peru?) where special forces from various countries were trained for jungle operations, and apparently even them thought this training was particulary hard. Does someone know where it is situated? \*\* Belize I believe. Formerly know as British Honduras. ---
**Author:** ![arara123](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/41988e/32.png) [@arara123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/arara123)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2001, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-sas-do/83720/48 "2001-09-26T14:49:29Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by clairobscur \* > \*\*I remember having seen a documentary about a training center in South-America (Brazil? Peru?) where special forces from various countries were trained for jungle operations, and apparently even them thought this training was particulary hard. Does someone know where it is situated? \*\* Brazil has its CIGS (Centro de Instrução de Gerrra na Selva) school for jungle warfare. The U.S. sends people there on exchange programs. CIGS’ website (in Portuguese) is at [http://www.cigs.ensino.eb.br/index.html](http://www.cigs.ensino.eb.br/index.html) One thing that separates Brazil’s special forces from SAS, Delta, GSG-9, et al is that CIGS has its own zoo! If you’re in Manaus, stop by to see animals captured during CIGS operations. scroll down to near the end of [http://www.amazonguide.com.br/mef/city/bcity.htm#anchor709196](http://www.amazonguide.com.br/mef/city/bcity.htm#anchor709196) ---
**Author:** ![Iguana\_Boy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ed655f/32.png) [@Iguana\_Boy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iguana_Boy)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2001, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-sas-do/83720/49 "2001-09-26T18:30:25Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Whack-a-Mole \* > **I don’t know if the SAS includes snipers but my guess is they do** You are correct in your guess - they do have snipers. ---
**Author:** ![Milton\_De\_La\_Warre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e480ec/32.png) [@Milton\_De\_La\_Warre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Milton_De_La_Warre)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2001, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-sas-do/83720/50 "2001-09-26T20:06:31Z")
What does the SAS do? Anything they want, normally including the impossible. An earlier post mentions they’ve been in Afghanistan. When? For what? We could learn well from what they did in Oman. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2001, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-sas-do/83720/51 "2001-09-26T20:42:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by clairobscur \* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by manhattan \* > > For the purposes of this message board, until **Sorbust** posts some evidence, he is in fact making it up from whole cloth. > > . > > I believe this comment is undeserved. Storbust didn’t made up anything, \*\*since we’re still waiting for the fact he intends to make up… \*\* 😃 😃 P.S. I’m getting the hang of his style now: > [@](#): > > \*Originally not posted by Sea Sorbust \* > Did you know that **Sea Sorbust** is an anagram of **factless or bust?** ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2001, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-sas-do/83720/52 "2001-09-26T21:12:32Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by JCHeckler \* > \*\*An earlier post mentions they’ve been in Afghanistan. When? For what? > > We could learn well from what they did in Oman. \*\* I think they meant very recently (about the SAS being in Afghanistan). A few days ago there were reports that British soldiers were fired upon. The details were sketchy at best and I don’t know if they were independently confirmed or not. Still, it made the major news services so that’s probably where it came from. As to what they are doing there it is a secret (or at least the British government isn’t saying). That said a military expert on NPR speculated that they are probably there for reconnaissance at this time. The pundit on NPR was very explicit that he was just guessing but figured at this point it seemed a reasonable guess. What did the SAS do in Oman that we could learn from? ---
**Author:** ![London\_Calling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@London\_Calling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/London_Calling)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2001, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-sas-do/83720/53 "2001-09-26T21:52:00Z")
I still think it’s psychologically very convenient that (if the reports are to be believed) they announced their arrival in an exchange that didn’t cost them casualties. Not far from Kabul. That’s got to hurt. ---
**Author:** ![Trip\_Fall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/58f4c7/32.png) [@Trip\_Fall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trip_Fall)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2001, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-sas-do/83720/54 "2001-09-26T22:43:38Z")
Of course the SAS would go to Afganistan. They helped train the Taliban soldiers in the first place! > **[In the death zone](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2001/sep/19/september11.afghanistan)** > > It is one of the wildest places on earth. High in the mountain passes vehicles are useless and in winter the snow is neck deep. Then there are the Afghans, devastatingly effective guerrilla fighters, says ex-SAS man Tom Carew. And he should know - he... Let’s hope they didn’t train them very well - not that they seem to need it. They’ve got home court advantage, after all. Has anyone ever been able to win a war under such circumstances? (Fighting a guerilla force, that is.) I don’t think so, but then, I’m not real big on history. Anyway, anyone that’s seen the Princess Bride knows not to get involved in a land war in Asia. ---
**Author:** ![Sea\_Sorbust](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Sea\_Sorbust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sea_Sorbust)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2001, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-sas-do/83720/55 "2001-09-28T16:46:17Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by_\* clairobscur\*\* \* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by **manhattan** \* > > For the purposes of this message board, until **Sorbust** posts some evidence, he is in fact making it up from whole cloth. > > . > > I believe this comment is undeserved. Storbust didn’t made up anything, since we’re still waiting for the fact he intends to make up… I’m sorry. I seem to have lost the train of this thing. What fact is it you are waiting for me to make up? ---
**Author:** ![Sea\_Sorbust](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Sea\_Sorbust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sea_Sorbust)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2001, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-sas-do/83720/56 "2001-09-28T17:18:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by \*\*Spavined Gelding \*\*\* > It is my recollection that Roosevelt, Jr., deputy commanding general of the Fourth Infantry Division, died of a heart attack a week or so after the Normandy landings. He was, I think, a brigadier general, and in poor health but unwilling to do anything that might be construed as shirking his duty. It seems that your are right, **Spavined Gelding.** > [@](#): > > On June 6, 1944, Brigadier General Theodore Roosevelt came ashore with the first of the assault boats landing on Utah Beach. He led his troops off the beach, over a sea wall and inland, where they established secure positions. He then returned to the beach, leading other groups over the sea wall to the secure positions over and over again. For these actions on June 6, 1944, he was awarded the Medal of Honor. > > General Eisenhower recognized General Theodore Roosevelt’s ability to instill vitality into a combat unit and decided to give him command of the 90th Division on July 12,1944. General Theodore Roosevelt never assumed his new command, as he died of a heart attack in his truck on the evening of July 11,1944. He was buried in the American Cemetery in Normandy on Bastille Day, July 14, 1944. What’s amazing about this (–to me, anyway–) is that I’ve believed that BG Roosevelt was caught in a stick of misplaced bombs (and died thereof) for some 25 years! Perhaps I misread or, maybe, incorrectly interpolated GA Omar Bradley’s writing. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2001, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-sas-do/83720/57 "2001-09-28T17:53:47Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Sea Sorbust \* > I’m sorry. I seem to have lost the train of this thing. What fact is it you are waiting for me to make up? This one: > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Sea Sorbust \* > Once upon a time, 50-60 years ago, the SAS or one of its predecessors, was in the business of assassinating American 4-star Generals. They did, I must say, a right good job of it, too. Perhaps you didn’t notice the reaction this got… > [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Pipeliner_ > …what exactly does this mean? > [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Shagnasty_ > This kind of stuff should not be posted on a message board dedicated to fighting ignorance. Are you seriously saying that the British assasinated US Generals during World War II ? > [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Tymp_ > Do you have a creditable source to cite … or did you make up this lie just now? > [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Iguana Boy_ > Like most others, I do not know what Sea Sorburst is talking about. > [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Spiny Norman_ > May I suggest that you make your comment before withdrawing it ? > [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Whack-a-Mole_ > Sea Sorbust are you being deliberately obtuse? As a break from studying your history books, perhaps you could usefully check the following in a dictionary: ‘fact’, ‘evidence’, ‘cite’, ‘spurious’, ‘unsubstantiated’, ‘allegation’ and ‘ignorance’. ---
**Author:** ![miamouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ad7895/32.png) [@miamouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/miamouse)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2001, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-sas-do/83720/58 "2001-09-28T19:57:58Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Trip Fall \* > \*\*Anyway, anyone that’s seen the Princess Bride knows not to get involved in a land war in Asia. \*\* [inigo montoya] My name is George Dubblya You crash my towers, prepare to die! [/inigo montoya] ---
**Author:** ![Sea\_Sorbust](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Sea\_Sorbust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sea_Sorbust)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2001, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-sas-do/83720/59 "2001-09-30T18:53:55Z")
Earlier in this thread I had posted: > [@](#): > > What’s amazing about this (–to me, anyway–) is that I’ve believed that BG Roosevelt was caught in a stick of misplaced bombs (and died thereof) for some 25 years! Twenty-five years ! Perhaps I took the legend of\* Pinoccio\* too seriously when first exposed to it as a kid; but my nose keeps getting the feeling that it wants to grow longer. 😃 On further thought, the number “25 years” is not quite accurate. Perhaps I slipped a decimal point or something\*\*:\*\* maybe to the right (250 years) or maybe to the left (2.5 years), but the number “25” is not quite accurate. The **fact** , however, is. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2001, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-sas-do/83720/60 "2001-09-30T21:36:48Z")
Sea Sorbust, - you make an vague allegation, but seem averse to clarifying it - when challenged, you waffle about something else, and produce the depressing follow-up: ‘There are many ways to “assassinate” someone other than killing them.’ (Since you don’t mention reputation, you’re left with definition 1 in the dictionary, where assassinate means kill.) Are you averse to using accurate English? - you post to the thread, but seem averse to reading it. Please respond to our requests. P.S. there’s a Pit thread about you - have you read it? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-sas-do/83720.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-sas-do/83720.md?page=4)