Airpower Afghanistan and the Future of Warfare

<p>This thesis seeks to answer an important question: How is the relationship between air and ground power changing? The author defines Relationship as the relative utility each form of force application provides in the service of American national security. The author argues that airpower has evolved so much that it now dominates the air/ground relationship and that this truth has important implications for the United States. Because of precision airpower no adversary can mass against the United States without facing certain destruction a truth that has profound implications for airmen and soldiers alike. Second airpower's lethality has made it the most politically useful military tool in America's arsenal. Finally as a natured extension of its lethality airpower has become the ultimate guarantor of economy of force. Operations Enduring Freedom Iraqi freedom demonstrated that in the presence of precision airpower fewer ground troops are required during the combat phase of modern war.</p><p>This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore you will see the original copyright references library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world) and other notations in the work.</p><p>This work is in the public domain in the United States of America and possibly other nations. Within the United States you may freely copy and distribute this work as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.</p><p>As a reproduction of a historical artifact this work may contain missing or blurred pages poor pictures errant marks etc. Scholars believe and we concur that this work is important enough to be preserved reproduced and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.</p>