"Pirate-Mer" Shows its Stuff
Directed by president Nicolas Sarkozy, personnel involved in the release of the crew of the Ponent cruise ship applied procedures of France's "Pirate-Mer" (Sea Pirate) plan for the first time.
The COS (Commandement des Operations Speciales), France’s special operations command, has authority over all of the French forces’ Special Forces units. Based on the model of the USSOCOM, the COS reports directly to the chief of defence staff and often operates under the orders of the French president. It is frequently in competition with the DGSE’s Service Action on clandestine operations.