Balancing Kinetic Effects of Airpower With Counterin Surgency Objectives in Afghanistan

<p>Airpower an important instrument in the tool kit of a Combatant Commander may be used in both a kinetic and non-kinetic manner. In Afghanistan where operations are spread across a vast area and the terrain creates challenges for other elements of joint fire support kinetic effects from the air component have been particularly important to support operations. Anti-Coalition Militants are unable to negate the effects of kinetic airpower via direct means and have turned to indirect measures to attempt to limit its effectiveness. The Anti-Coalition Militant indirect approach of inducing and exploiting civilian casualties has brought a great deal of negative attention regarding the use of kinetic airpower in Afghanistan. This negative attention has had the strategic effect of straining U.S. - Afghan relations and caused the USCENTCOM Commander to review the use of kinetic airpower -- thus jeopardizing the use of this valuable asset in theater. This paper addresses how the U.S. can balance the kinetic effects of airpower with strategic objectives in counterinsurgency.</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>