So, in the "Iraq Solutions" thread A4's started, we got into a discussion about this article...
Is air power the new face of successful war-fighting?
In it, the author argues that one of America's biggest assymetric advantages in warfighting is our air power. He goes on to suggest ways in which we can and should use that air power to our advantage in our current conflict.
I don't think that there is much arguement about the advantage part. Against nearly anyone else in the world in the air, we hold tremendous advantage. (Israel might be a little scarry though...) But lets go a step farther...
- How can we best utilize that advantage in current and future warplans considering the inherent limitations of airpower? (eg. it is very difficult for air superiority to deny ground forces an area by itself etc...)
- The United States has several other signifigant assymetric advantages, namely, a globally dominant Navy, tremendous light infantry/amphibious capability, air power...Which of these provides the most flexible warfighting tool? In short, which is the most important to preserve?
- Looking over the horizon a bit, what is the next battle? The author of the above suggested that we were working ourselves into shape for the counterinsurgency battle, but this may very well not be our next major engagement. What will that engagement look like? Which of our assymetric advatages might be most useful here?
A good essay will encorporate specific examples and address all questions...
:icon_wink
Is air power the new face of successful war-fighting?
In it, the author argues that one of America's biggest assymetric advantages in warfighting is our air power. He goes on to suggest ways in which we can and should use that air power to our advantage in our current conflict.
I don't think that there is much arguement about the advantage part. Against nearly anyone else in the world in the air, we hold tremendous advantage. (Israel might be a little scarry though...) But lets go a step farther...
- How can we best utilize that advantage in current and future warplans considering the inherent limitations of airpower? (eg. it is very difficult for air superiority to deny ground forces an area by itself etc...)
- The United States has several other signifigant assymetric advantages, namely, a globally dominant Navy, tremendous light infantry/amphibious capability, air power...Which of these provides the most flexible warfighting tool? In short, which is the most important to preserve?
- Looking over the horizon a bit, what is the next battle? The author of the above suggested that we were working ourselves into shape for the counterinsurgency battle, but this may very well not be our next major engagement. What will that engagement look like? Which of our assymetric advatages might be most useful here?
A good essay will encorporate specific examples and address all questions...
:icon_wink
