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"dispatch - - initiate contacts - - assess - - diplomatic dialogue."

At least on two occasions that have been made public, troops of the British Special Air Service [SAS] regiment have gone on missions to Libya. A response to the Libyan crisis, the Libyan insurrection and rebellion. One time in an apparent official capacity, active duty troops, the second time in an unofficial capacity, "The Circuit" as it is called at work.

Thanks in both cases to the British press here.

SAS! British special operations, ranger/commando, guerrilla fighters, unconventional warriors operating in an irregular manner. The SAS in these two instances returning to the Libyan desert after a hiatus of over seventy years, the "birthplace", hallowed ground so to speak!

SAS having both success and failure, hazardous duty in both cases.

1. "SAS veterans organised airlift of British oil workers from Libya"

"The daring SAS air mission that rescued 150 Brits from Libya on Saturday was launched by a small group of former troops."

Oil workers, Englishmen [and others?], in grave danger, at peril from "crazed armed gangs", plucked from the remote fastness of the Libyan desert, an airlift bringing a group of roustabouts to safety, an operation the success of which was in large measure to SAS "former" troops on the ground. Establishing an air strip, providing security and terminal guidance for the rescue aircraft.

"The vets, now private security guards in the Middle East, cleared landing strips in the Libyan desert then gave pilots the map locations."

"oil workers who were fearing deadly attacks from crazed armed gangs cruising the area."

Success!
2. "Hague: 'Blame Me For Bungled Libya Mission'"

"William Hague has said he takes "full ministerial responsibility" for a bungled diplomatic mission in Libya which led to SAS troopers and a 'junior diplomat' being captured by armed rebels."

SAS troops accompanying a "junior diplomat" on a fact-finding mission to make contact with the Libyan rebels, assess and report on the chaotic situation, try to make some sense of what is occurring! THE REBELS NOT BEING TOLD OF THIS MISSION IN ADVANCE, THE SOLDIERS AND DIPLOMAT TAKEN PRISONER - - THEN RELEASED!!

Failure!
This latter military operation, a "junior diplomat" entering a war zone to make contact with the rebels, going in "blind" so to speak, is the type of mission that is hazardous but necessary. Risk has been assumed and accepted, SAS troops always aware they are placing themselves in danger whenever they take the field, regardless of where or how!

Nobody ever said this was going to be easy!
coolbert.