Can Airpower Counter the Asymmetric Threat? Factors Influencing the Employment of Airpower Against International Terrorist Threats

<p>Asymmetric threats have risen to the forefront of United States national security concerns in recent years. International terrorism is one such threat that continues to be a chief concern for the U.S. at home and abroad. Airpower provides unique capabilities in the areas of dominant maneuver and precision engagement that can be leveraged against this particular threat to national security. Technological advancements in airpower weapons such as cruise missiles tactical aircraft (including stealth/low observability bombers) and standoff precision weapons make them the weapon systems of choice when preemptive or retaliatory kinetic strikes are ordered against terrorist targets. Even though advancements in technology have increased the successfulness of these weapons further advances in Precision Guided Munition (PGM) technology are warranted. More important however are the ancillary factors that can negatively influence the military's ability to counter the asymmetric threat.</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>