Perspectives: NATO needs a unified elite force, experts-contend.

While most NATO members have skilled special operations units, the alliance so far has not forged them into a cohesive multinational force. Such a commando formation would be better qualified--particularly in counterterrorism scenarios--to respond to contingencies, avow military experts.

"A strong case can be made for creating a NATO SOF force," suggests a study published recently by the National Defense University.

"What NATO does best--enhancing and melding multilateral capabilities for combined action--it has not done with regard to SOF," write David C. Gompert and Raymond C. Smith.

Gompert is a senior fellow at Rand Corp., and a former ranking advisor to the Coalition Provisional Authority in Iraq. Smith, a retired rear admiral, is a former deputy commander of the U.S. Special Operations Command and one-time commander of the Naval Special Warfare Command.

"Much could be gained through sharing of know-how and best practices, and interoperability could be forged through SOF exchanges, training and exercises," the study says.

The value of a NATO SOF force is obvious in light of the ongoing campaign against al Qaeda terrorist groups. In its 2006 quadrennial defense review, the Pentagon noted the heightened importance of SOF for combating the global jihad and other irregular threats.

Most NATO allies possess SOF capabilities in one form or another. Some allies also have high-performance commando and elite paramilitary forces that are not assigned to their defense ministries.

Within Spain's Guardia Civil, for example, are some of the world's finest counterterrorism forces--reflecting Spain's long struggle with Basque separatists, who use terror tactics.

Several allies, such as the United Kingdom, France, Germany; Spain, Italy and Poland, have SOF-type forces in significant numbers that are capable of a wide range of missions. Quantitatively, the combined SOF capabilities of NATO allies are roughly half those of U.S. SOE This represents a significant capacity for global efforts, provided the forces can be organized to work and fight together against common threats such as al Qaeda, notes the NDU study.

However, the SOF of NATO members, including the United States, are not organized to collaborate for the purpose of improving capabilities, increasing preparedness or operating jointly.

NATO has on occasion requested U.S. and allied SOF for specific contingencies, such as those in Bosnia and Kosovo. Some useful but minor U.S.-allied bilateral SOF...