STEALTH FORCES

The top U.S. military commander for the Middle East has created a covert commando force to hunt Saddam Hussein, Osama bin Laden and key terrorists throughout the region, according to Pentagon and military officials.

The new Special Operations organization is designed to act faster than other units on intelligence tips about "high-value targets" and not be limited to where conventional U.S. forces are operating in Iraq and Afghanistan...

Pentagon officials and military officers said the new, more flexible force has already gotten close to Saddam but declined to give details.

(emphasis added)