Military here (POG, so there's no personal experience. I just know a little more than the average civilian).
Snatch-and-grab in other countries is one of the most hazardous operations that SF does. In fact, it's one of the few operations where all of our advantages go out the window. You're fighting on their turf for a target they know you're after. What's more is that you have to fight them on their terms, as you can't just go in and kill everyone. So, imagine Mike Tyson, except he has one hand tied behind his back and one hand with a Sockin' Bopper. Sure, he'll probably still beat a lot of people, but it's likely that the other guy is going to give him a black eye.
Because of this, there are only a few times when they're willing to do snatch and grab:
1. When the person is especially vulnerable and easy to get. They might be in recently captured terrain, for example. All of his friends have run away, and he's stuck in a hideout. SF can then get a lot of support from other elements - they'll get a company from a nearby battalion, motor transport, medevac if needed, etc. The operation then becomes very lopsided, which is exactly how you want a smash-and-grab operation to go. You'll often get 20-30 people, not counting support, on an operation that takes 5 people. This is how a lot of al-Qaeda leaders got captured in Iraq.
2. When the person is so high-profile that he needs to be nailed and they need 100% confirmation that the guy is captured or dead. See Osama bin Laden.
Not only that, putting boots on the ground to grab people in other countries is a really sticky situation politically. You think the fallout from a drone strike is bad? Take a look at the fallout from SF doing hostage rescue. [1] Now, imagine us doing it all the time. People would be infuriated in a way that they aren't with drones. I don't know why; after all, the drones are the faceless annihilators, while a snatch team is trying to do the right thing. But the idea of 30 Americans flying into a city to grab someone is much more unpalatable than a drone.
Basically, I don't have a problem with SF doing it every once in a while when it's really, really important, but I wouldn't want them having to do it all the time. Better to have a process in place to use drones, one that we can all look at and vote on to decide whether we want it or not. Of course, if we want to vote for it, we could also dramatically ramp up SF involvement as well.
Snatch-and-grab in other countries is one of the most hazardous operations that SF does. In fact, it's one of the few operations where all of our advantages go out the window. You're fighting on their turf for a target they know you're after. What's more is that you have to fight them on their terms, as you can't just go in and kill everyone. So, imagine Mike Tyson, except he has one hand tied behind his back and one hand with a Sockin' Bopper. Sure, he'll probably still beat a lot of people, but it's likely that the other guy is going to give him a black eye.
Because of this, there are only a few times when they're willing to do snatch and grab:
1. When the person is especially vulnerable and easy to get. They might be in recently captured terrain, for example. All of his friends have run away, and he's stuck in a hideout. SF can then get a lot of support from other elements - they'll get a company from a nearby battalion, motor transport, medevac if needed, etc. The operation then becomes very lopsided, which is exactly how you want a smash-and-grab operation to go. You'll often get 20-30 people, not counting support, on an operation that takes 5 people. This is how a lot of al-Qaeda leaders got captured in Iraq.
2. When the person is so high-profile that he needs to be nailed and they need 100% confirmation that the guy is captured or dead. See Osama bin Laden.
Not only that, putting boots on the ground to grab people in other countries is a really sticky situation politically. You think the fallout from a drone strike is bad? Take a look at the fallout from SF doing hostage rescue. [1] Now, imagine us doing it all the time. People would be infuriated in a way that they aren't with drones. I don't know why; after all, the drones are the faceless annihilators, while a snatch team is trying to do the right thing. But the idea of 30 Americans flying into a city to grab someone is much more unpalatable than a drone.
Basically, I don't have a problem with SF doing it every once in a while when it's really, really important, but I wouldn't want them having to do it all the time. Better to have a process in place to use drones, one that we can all look at and vote on to decide whether we want it or not. Of course, if we want to vote for it, we could also dramatically ramp up SF involvement as well.
[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Eagle_Claw