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SAC provides the [[United States National Security Council]] with alternative options when overt military and/or diplomatic actions are not viable or politically feasible. SAC can be directly tasked by the [[U.S. president]] or the [[United States National Security Council|National Security Council]] at the president's direction, unlike other U.S. special mission forces. SAC/SOG has far fewer members than most of the other special missions units, such as the [[U.S. Army]]'s 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta ([[Delta Force]]) or [[SEAL Team Six|Naval Special Warfare Development Group]] (DEVGRU).<ref name='Southworth'>Southworth (2002)</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Joint Publication 1-02, Department of Defense Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms |publisher=[[United States Department of Defense]] |date=October 17, 2008 |url=http://www.dtic.mil/doctrine/jel/new_pubs/jp1_02.pdf |page=512 |access-date=November 29, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081123014953/http://www.dtic.mil/doctrine/jel/new_pubs/jp1_02.pdf |archive-date=November 23, 2008 }}</ref><ref name='Waller'>{{cite web|first=Waller |last=Douglas |date=February 3, 2003 |title=The CIA's Secret Army |magazine=Time |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1004145-1,00.html |access-date=January 27, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110211120922/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1004145-1,00.html |archive-date=February 11, 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
SAC provides the [[United States National Security Council]] with alternative options when overt military and/or diplomatic actions are not viable or politically feasible. SAC can be directly tasked by the [[U.S. president]] or the [[United States National Security Council|National Security Council]] at the president's direction, unlike other U.S. special mission forces. SAC/SOG has far fewer members than most of the other special missions units, such as the [[U.S. Army]]'s 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta ([[Delta Force]]) or [[SEAL Team Six|Naval Special Warfare Development Group]] (DEVGRU).<ref name='Southworth'>Southworth (2002)</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Joint Publication 1-02, Department of Defense Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms |publisher=[[United States Department of Defense]] |date=October 17, 2008 |url=http://www.dtic.mil/doctrine/jel/new_pubs/jp1_02.pdf |page=512 |access-date=November 29, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081123014953/http://www.dtic.mil/doctrine/jel/new_pubs/jp1_02.pdf |archive-date=November 23, 2008 }}</ref><ref name='Waller'>{{cite web|first=Waller |last=Douglas |date=February 3, 2003 |title=The CIA's Secret Army |magazine=Time |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1004145-1,00.html |access-date=January 27, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110211120922/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1004145-1,00.html |archive-date=February 11, 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref>


As the action arm of the CIA's [[Directorate of Operations (CIA)|Directorate of Operations]], SAC/SOG conducts [[Direct action (military)|direct action]] missions such as [[raid (military)|raids]], [[ambush]]es, [[sabotage]], [[targeted killing]]s<ref>{{cite news |title=CIA Pakistan Campaign is Working Director Say |first1=Mark |last1=Mazzetti |first2=Helene |last2=Cooper |newspaper=The New York Times |date=February 26, 2009 |page=A15}}</ref><ref name="CIA Secret Program PM">{{cite news |title=CIA Secret Program: PM Teams Targeting Al Qaeda |first=Greg |last=Miller |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=July 14, 2009 |page=A1 |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2009-jul-14-na-cia-cheney14-story.html |access-date=December 11, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160517152012/http://articles.latimes.com/2009/jul/14/nation/na-cia-cheney14 |archive-date=May 17, 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=CIA Had Plan To Assassinate Qaeda Leaders |first1=Mark |last1=Mazzetti |first2=Shane  |last2=Scott  |newspaper=The New York Times |date=July 14, 2009 |page=A1}}</ref> and [[unconventional warfare (United States)|unconventional warfare]] (e.g., training and leading [[Guerrilla warfare|guerrilla]] and military units of other countries in combat) as an [[Irregular military|irregular military force]]. SAC/SOG also conducts [[special reconnaissance]] that can be either military or [[Military intelligence|intelligence]] driven and is carried out by Paramilitary Officers (also called Paramilitary Operatives or Paramilitary Operations Officers) when in "[[denied area|non-permissive environments]]". Paramilitary Operations Officers are also fully trained [[case officer]]s (i.e., "spy handlers") and as such conduct clandestine human intelligence ([[HUMINT]]) operations throughout the world.<ref name='Coll 2004'>Coll (2004)</ref>
As the action arm of the CIA's [[Directorate of Operations (CIA)|Directorate of Operations]], SAC/SOG conducts [[Direct action (military)|direct action]] missions such as [[raid (military)|raids]], [[ambush]]es, [[sabotage]], [[targeted killing]]s<ref>{{cite news |title=CIA Pakistan Campaign is Working Director Say |first1=Mark |last1=Mazzetti |first2=Helene |last2=Cooper |newspaper=The New York Times |date=February 26, 2009 |page=A15}}</ref><ref name="CIA Secret Program PM">{{cite news |title=CIA Secret Program: PM Teams Targeting Al Qaeda |first=Greg |last=Miller |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |date=July 14, 2009 |page=A1 |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2009-jul-14-na-cia-cheney14-story.html |access-date=December 11, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160517152012/http://articles.latimes.com/2009/jul/14/nation/na-cia-cheney14 |archive-date=May 17, 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=CIA Had Plan To Assassinate Qaeda Leaders |first1=Mark |last1=Mazzetti |first2=Shane  |last2=Scott  |newspaper=The New York Times |date=July 14, 2009 |page=A1}}</ref> and [[unconventional warfare (United States)|unconventional warfare]] (e.g., training and leading [[Guerrilla warfare|guerrilla]] and military units of other countries in combat) as an [[Irregular military|irregular military force]]. SAC/SOG also conducts [[special reconnaissance]] that can be either military or [[Military intelligence|intelligence]] driven and is carried out by Paramilitary Officers (also called Paramilitary Operatives or Paramilitary Operations Officers) when in "[[denied area|non-permissive environments]]". Paramilitary Operations Officers are also fully trained [[case officer]]s (i.e., "spy handlers") and as such conduct clandestine human intelligence ([[HUMINT]]) operations throughout the world.<ref name='Coll 2004'>Coll (2004)</ref>


The political action group within SAC conducts the deniable [[Psychological warfare|psychological operations]], also known as [[black propaganda]], as well as "covert influence" to induce political change in other countries as part of [[United States foreign policy]].<ref name="Daugherty 2004" /> Covert intervention in foreign elections is the most significant form of SAC's political action. This involves financial support for favored candidates, media guidance, technical support for [[public relations]], get-out-the-vote or political organizing efforts, legal expertise, advertising campaigns, assistance with poll-watching, and other means of direct action. Policy decisions are influenced by agents, such as subverted officials of the country, to make decisions in their official capacity that are in the furtherance of U.S. policy aims. In addition, mechanisms for forming and developing opinions involve the covert use of [[propaganda]].{{refn|<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/stories/story/the-spymasters-toolkit/|title=The Spymaster's Toolkit - CIA|website=www.cia.gov}}</ref><ref name="SaundersCulture">{{Citation| last =Saunders| first =Frances Stonor| authorlink =Frances Stonor Saunders| year =1999| title =[[The Cultural Cold War: The CIA and the World of Arts and Letters]]| publisher =[[The New Press]]| isbn =1-56584-664-8}}</ref><ref name="Wilford2008">{{citation| title = The Mighty Wurlitzer: How the CIA Played America| first = Hugh| last = Wilford| publisher = Harvard University Press| year = 2008| isbn = 978-0-674-02681-0| url-access = registration| url = https://archive.org/details/mightywurlitzerh00wilf}}</ref><ref>Ralph W. McGehee, "Deadly Deceits: My 25 Years in the CIA" (Sheridan Square; Ocean Press 1983, 1999), {{ISBN|1-876175-19-2}} pp. [[iarchive:11-deadly-deceits-my-25-years-in-ralph-w.-mc-gehee/page/n183/mode/2up|180–181]]</ref><ref name="JourCIA">{{cite news | title = U.S. Journalists Doubling as CIA Agents, Paper Says | work = Los Angeles Times | date = 1973-11-30 | url = https://www.proquest.com/docview/157482350 | access-date = January 17, 2023 | archive-date = August 14, 2017 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170814101924/https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/doc/157482350.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Nov+30%2C+1973&author=&pub=Los+Angeles+Times+%281923-Current+File%29&edition=&startpage=&desc=U.S.+Journalists+Doubling+as+CIA+Agents%2C+Paper+Says | id = {{ProQuest|157482350}} | url-status = live }}</ref><ref name="Church Committee Final Report p. 455">Church Committee Final Report, Vol 1: Foreign and Military Intelligence, p. 455</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=The CIA in Hollywood: How the Agency Shapes Film and Television A1 |last=Jenkins|first=Tricia|year=2012 |publisher=University of Texas Press|location=Austin|isbn= 9780292737075 |url=https://muse.jhu.edu/book/14683|id={{Project MUSE|14683}}}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1977/12/26/archives/worldwide-propaganda-network-built-by-the-cia-a-worldwide-network.html|title=Worldwide Propaganda Network Built by the C.I.A.|work=The New York Times |date=December 26, 1977|via=NYTimes.com}}</ref>}}
The political action group within SAC conducts the deniable [[Psychological warfare|psychological operations]], also known as [[black propaganda]], as well as "covert influence" to induce political change in other countries as part of [[United States foreign policy]].<ref name="Daugherty 2004" /> Covert intervention in foreign elections is the most significant form of SAC's political action. This involves financial support for favored candidates, media guidance, technical support for [[public relations]], get-out-the-vote or political organizing efforts, legal expertise, advertising campaigns, assistance with poll-watching, and other means of direct action. Policy decisions are influenced by agents, such as subverted officials of the country, to make decisions in their official capacity that are in the furtherance of U.S. policy aims. In addition, mechanisms for forming and developing opinions involve the covert use of [[propaganda]].{{refn|<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/stories/story/the-spymasters-toolkit/|title=The Spymaster's Toolkit - CIA|website=www.cia.gov}}</ref><ref name="SaundersCulture">{{Citation| last =Saunders| first =Frances Stonor| authorlink =Frances Stonor Saunders| year =1999| title =[[The Cultural Cold War: The CIA and the World of Arts and Letters]]| publisher =[[The New Press]]| isbn =1-56584-664-8}}</ref><ref name="Wilford2008">{{citation| title = The Mighty Wurlitzer: How the CIA Played America| first = Hugh| last = Wilford| publisher = Harvard University Press| year = 2008| isbn = 978-0-674-02681-0| url-access = registration| url = https://archive.org/details/mightywurlitzerh00wilf}}</ref><ref>Ralph W. McGehee, "Deadly Deceits: My 25 Years in the CIA" (Sheridan Square; Ocean Press 1983, 1999), {{ISBN|1-876175-19-2}} pp. [[iarchive:11-deadly-deceits-my-25-years-in-ralph-w.-mc-gehee/page/n183/mode/2up|180–181]]</ref><ref name="JourCIA">{{cite news | title = U.S. Journalists Doubling as CIA Agents, Paper Says | work = Los Angeles Times | date = 1973-11-30 | url = https://www.proquest.com/docview/157482350 | access-date = January 17, 2023 | archive-date = August 14, 2017 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170814101924/https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/doc/157482350.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Nov+30%2C+1973&author=&pub=Los+Angeles+Times+%281923-Current+File%29&edition=&startpage=&desc=U.S.+Journalists+Doubling+as+CIA+Agents%2C+Paper+Says | id = {{ProQuest|157482350}} | url-status = live }}</ref><ref name="Church Committee Final Report p. 455">Church Committee Final Report, Vol 1: Foreign and Military Intelligence, p. 455</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=The CIA in Hollywood: How the Agency Shapes Film and Television A1 |last=Jenkins|first=Tricia|year=2012 |publisher=University of Texas Press|location=Austin|isbn= 9780292737075 |url=https://muse.jhu.edu/book/14683|id={{Project MUSE|14683}}}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1977/12/26/archives/worldwide-propaganda-network-built-by-the-cia-a-worldwide-network.html|title=Worldwide Propaganda Network Built by the C.I.A.|work=The New York Times |date=December 26, 1977|via=NYTimes.com}}</ref>}}
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The SAC/SOG teams have also been active in the Philippines, where 1,200 U.S. military advisers helped to train local soldiers in "counter-terrorist operations" against [[Abu Sayyaf]], a radical Islamist group suspected of ties with al Qaeda. Little is known about this U.S. covert action program, but some analysts believe that "the CIA's paramilitary wing, the Special Activities Division (SAD) [referring to SAC's previous name], has been allowed to pursue terrorist suspects in the Philippines on the basis that its actions will never be acknowledged."<ref name="timesonline.co.uk"/>
The SAC/SOG teams have also been active in the Philippines, where 1,200 U.S. military advisers helped to train local soldiers in "counter-terrorist operations" against [[Abu Sayyaf]], a radical Islamist group suspected of ties with al Qaeda. Little is known about this U.S. covert action program, but some analysts believe that "the CIA's paramilitary wing, the Special Activities Division (SAD) [referring to SAC's previous name], has been allowed to pursue terrorist suspects in the Philippines on the basis that its actions will never be acknowledged."<ref name="timesonline.co.uk"/>


On July 14, 2009, several newspapers reported that DCIA [[Leon Panetta]] was briefed on a CIA program that had not been briefed to the oversight committees in Congress. Panetta canceled the initiative and reported its existence to Congress and the President. The program consisted of teams of SAC paramilitary officers organized to execute [[targeted killing]] operations against al Qaeda operatives around the world in any country. According to the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'', DCIA Panetta "has not ruled out reviving the program."<ref name="CIA Secret Program PM"/> There is some question as to whether former Vice President [[Dick Cheney]] instructed the CIA not to inform Congress.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/14/us/14intel.html CIA Had Plan To Assassinate Qaeda Leaders] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170315210929/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/14/us/14intel.html |date=March 15, 2017 }}, [[Mark Mazzetti]] and Shane Scott, ''The New York Times'', July 14, 2009, p. A1.</ref> Per senior intelligence officers, this program was an attempt to avoid the civilian casualties that can occur during Predator drone strikes using [[Hellfire missile]]s.<ref>[https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB124752710888335275 "CIA Plan Envisioned Hit Teams Killing al Qaeda Leaders"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170313041641/https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB124752710888335275 |date=March 13, 2017 }}, Siobahn Gorman, ''The Wall Street Journal'', July 14, 2009, A3</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://foreignpolicy.com/articles/2011/04/29/this_week_at_war_company_men |title=This Week at War: Company Men |first=Robert |last=Haddick |work=Foreign Policy |access-date=May 19, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110506100016/http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2011/04/29/this_week_at_war_company_men |archive-date=May 6, 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref>
On July 14, 2009, several newspapers reported that DCIA [[Leon Panetta]] was briefed on a CIA program that had not been briefed to the oversight committees in Congress. Panetta canceled the initiative and reported its existence to Congress and the President. The program consisted of teams of SAC paramilitary officers organized to execute [[targeted killing]] operations against al Qaeda operatives around the world in any country. According to the ''Los Angeles Times'', DCIA Panetta "has not ruled out reviving the program."<ref name="CIA Secret Program PM"/> There is some question as to whether former Vice President [[Dick Cheney]] instructed the CIA not to inform Congress.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/14/us/14intel.html CIA Had Plan To Assassinate Qaeda Leaders] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170315210929/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/14/us/14intel.html |date=March 15, 2017 }}, [[Mark Mazzetti]] and Shane Scott, ''The New York Times'', July 14, 2009, p. A1.</ref> Per senior intelligence officers, this program was an attempt to avoid the civilian casualties that can occur during Predator drone strikes using [[Hellfire missile]]s.<ref>[https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB124752710888335275 "CIA Plan Envisioned Hit Teams Killing al Qaeda Leaders"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170313041641/https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB124752710888335275 |date=March 13, 2017 }}, Siobahn Gorman, ''The Wall Street Journal'', July 14, 2009, A3</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://foreignpolicy.com/articles/2011/04/29/this_week_at_war_company_men |title=This Week at War: Company Men |first=Robert |last=Haddick |work=Foreign Policy |access-date=May 19, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110506100016/http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2011/04/29/this_week_at_war_company_men |archive-date=May 6, 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref>


According to many experts, the Obama administration has relied on the CIA and their paramilitary capabilities, even more than they have on U.S. military forces, to maintain the fight against terrorists in the Afghanistan and Pakistan region, as well as places like Yemen, Somalia and North Africa.<ref name="washingtonpost3">{{cite news |last=Stein |first=Jeff |url=http://voices.washingtonpost.com/spy-talk/2010/12/2010_cia_ramps_way_up.html |title=SpyTalk – 2010: CIA ramps way up |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=December 30, 2010 |access-date=May 19, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120111230200/http://voices.washingtonpost.com/spy-talk/2010/12/2010_cia_ramps_way_up.html |archive-date=January 11, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Tiku |first=Nitasha |url=https://nymag.com/daily/intel/2011/04/obamas_national_security_picks.html |title=Obama's National-Security Picks Cross the Line Between Spy and Soldier – Daily Intel |work=New York |date=April 28, 2011 |access-date=May 19, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110504053929/http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2011/04/obamas_national_security_picks.html |archive-date=May 4, 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref>  Ronald Kessler states in his book ''The CIA at War: Inside the Secret War Against Terror'', that although paramilitary operations are a strain on resources, they are winning the war against terrorism.<ref name="washingtonpost3"/><ref>{{cite news |last=Devine |first=Jack |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748704201604575373253893718806 |title=The CIA Solution for Afghanistan |newspaper=The Wall Street Journal |date=July 29, 2010 |access-date=May 19, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150706033308/http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748704201604575373253893718806 |archive-date=July 6, 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref>
According to many experts, the Obama administration has relied on the CIA and their paramilitary capabilities, even more than they have on U.S. military forces, to maintain the fight against terrorists in the Afghanistan and Pakistan region, as well as places like Yemen, Somalia and North Africa.<ref name="washingtonpost3">{{cite news |last=Stein |first=Jeff |url=http://voices.washingtonpost.com/spy-talk/2010/12/2010_cia_ramps_way_up.html |title=SpyTalk – 2010: CIA ramps way up |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=December 30, 2010 |access-date=May 19, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120111230200/http://voices.washingtonpost.com/spy-talk/2010/12/2010_cia_ramps_way_up.html |archive-date=January 11, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Tiku |first=Nitasha |url=https://nymag.com/daily/intel/2011/04/obamas_national_security_picks.html |title=Obama's National-Security Picks Cross the Line Between Spy and Soldier – Daily Intel |work=New York |date=April 28, 2011 |access-date=May 19, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110504053929/http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2011/04/obamas_national_security_picks.html |archive-date=May 4, 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref>  Ronald Kessler states in his book ''The CIA at War: Inside the Secret War Against Terror'', that although paramilitary operations are a strain on resources, they are winning the war against terrorism.<ref name="washingtonpost3"/><ref>{{cite news |last=Devine |first=Jack |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748704201604575373253893718806 |title=The CIA Solution for Afghanistan |newspaper=The Wall Street Journal |date=July 29, 2010 |access-date=May 19, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150706033308/http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748704201604575373253893718806 |archive-date=July 6, 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref>
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