The Pentagon is placing small numbers of elite special operations troops at U.S. embassies in about two dozen countries to gather information on potential terrorist threats in volatile locations, defense officials said on Wednesday.

Defense officials said the troops were stationed at embassies with the full approval of the U.S. ambassador in the countries but worked for the military's regional commander in collecting data useful for counter-terrorism missions.

The program highlights what some critics inside and outside the government have called the Pentagon's eagerness under Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld to engage in intelligence- gathering functions typically handled by other government agencies, notably the CIA.

Bryan Whitman, a senior Pentagon spokesman, said the program had been going on for "a couple of years." Members of these Military Liaison Elements, or MLEs, come under the purview of the military's Special Operations Command, based at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida, Whitman said.

"They don't hide the fact that they're in the military," Whitman said.

"They can provide situational awareness for the geographical commanders," he added. The Pentagon assigns senior commanders to head U.S. military operations in various regions, for example the Pacific region or the Middle East.

Officials said the groups are operating in regions where terrorist threats exist or could emerge. They declined to reveal the specific countries but said the total was about two dozen.

The New York Times, which first reported on the program, said the troops were in countries in Africa, Southeast Asia and South America.

Defense officials said the Military Liaison Elements could have as few as one person and at most "very small groups of individuals," and that the total number of troops worldwide performing the function was perhaps a few dozen.

"It's not a huge investment of people and resources, but it can yield big dividends," said Maj. Paul Swiergosz, another Pentagon spokesman.

Rumsfeld is a big proponent of special operations forces -- more highly trained and assigned more specialized, sensitive and secret jobs than regular military units.

Under Rumsfeld, special operations have been given more money and manpower, and the Bush administration has given Special Operations Command the lead role in military counter-terrorism endeavors.

"There is plenty of work to go around," said CIA spokesman Paul Gimigliano. "One key to success is that intelligence activities in a given country be coordinated, a process in which the (CIA) chief of station plays a crucial role."

Defense officials acknowledged that people in other parts of the government might feel threatened or disenfranchised by this type of Pentagon work, but emphasized the need in the government to gather and share information better.

The role played by members of these special operations teams differs from that of U.S. military attaches in embassies, whose tasks include liaising with a host nation's military.

(Additional reporting by David Morgan)