ARTICLE: "Special Operations in Iraq: High Profile, but in Shadow," by Thom Shanker, New York Times, 29 May 2007, p. A9.

What fascinates me so on CJTF-HOA is that, when left to their own devices, the military naturally splits into a Leviathan (Special Ops) and the SysAdmin (Combined Joint Task force-Horn of Africa's non-pointy "spear").

The two don't interact, really. It's the SWAT that works the threat as it must and the community cops who must work the environment, such as it is.

The former kills bad guys and stays in the shadows, the latter is out among the people, building security and trust.

Yes, they work at cross-purposes at times, but that is the nature of their yin-yang relationship.

Iraq evolves in that direction, as will our activities throughout the Gap, not because it's cool or visionary or theoretically sound, but because that's simply the new sets of tasks yielding the new mix.

It's not a huge numbers game per se, and doesn't need to be on the military side. Most SysAdmin functions will be driven by civilians and private-sector money, not uniforms and official developmental aid.

The key is simple the discretion: making clear that when A happens, that's when we come and kill you (pre-emption made exquisitely discrete, just like it is in America through our police). Outside of that, we're here to help build your capacity, leaving you in control.