The Military’s Elite Counterterrorism Units

Many nations have both police and military elite units who are highly trained but sometimes find themselves in ambiguous political situations or tenuous operational conditions. Special operations are often high-risk, high-gain, and some critics say conventional forces can accomplish the same objectives and goals. How necessary are elite counterterrorism units?
Respond to the following:
How necessary and effective are elite counterterrorism units? Why?
What other counterterrorist options do you think may be effective without resorting to the deployment of elite units?