Interview
Admiral William McRaven: Talks at GS Session Highlights
- Special operations personnel over age 25 are statistically expected to be married with two children.
- ISIS is predicted to function as a "flash mob" capable of moving from Syria to Iraq in unforeseen ways, with leadership expected to re-emerge after airstrikes unless ground troops control territory.
- The conflict with ISIS and related movements is forecast to be a decade-long or multi-decade struggle that will not resolve itself without active engagement.
- Pressure on Jordan and Lebanon could create state fragility, with the potential collapse of Jordan described as a risk capable of igniting the entire Levant.
- External instability in Mali, Libya, and Nigeria is anticipated to eventually impact the United States.
- A coalition with Arab and European allies is expected to be established, while the Iraqi Army will require ground support to recover from collapses in Mosul and Ramadi.
- An additional 1,500 advisors are planned for deployment to Iraq to secure areas and foster long-term stability.
- Iraqi leadership is projected to continue moving toward greater inclusivity among Shia, Sunni, and Kurdish populations.
- Future U.S. Presidents of any party affiliation are expected to utilize the nation's most experienced armed forces as liberally as possible and make "gutsy decisions" even with low odds of success, such as the 10% probability cited for the bin Laden raid.
- The U.S. election outcome is guaranteed to result in a President who will strive to do "the right thing" for the American people, maintaining a similar attitude toward national security decision-making as previous administrations.
- The SEAL Foundation is expected to continue providing approximately $7 million annually to support families through stress reduction, scholarships, camps, and tragedy assistance.
- Veterans characterized by tenacity are predicted to succeed in the private sector with long working hours, creating a continued need for support services as the global conflict extends over the long term.