Desert Talons

<p>As US and coalition ground forces seek to transfer security authority to Iraqi battalions airpower is uniquely endowed with capabilities that will allow it to act as a force multiplier and ensure hard-fought gains are not lost. The concept of airpower playing a predominant role in support of a smaller ground force has historical precedent. During the 1920s the Royal Air Force's (RAF) air control method adhered to the concepts of the inverted blockade minimum force precision targeting and force protection. The RAF's ground support and accompanying independent air operations sought to enhance the legitimacy of Iraq's nascent government and secure the country's interior. RAF air control proved to be an extremely cost-effective option for Great Britain amid the global economic crisis. During the 1990s the US followed a similar air policing concept as a means of containing Saddam Hussein and maintain external security for most of Iraq's neighbors. Humanitarian support operations in northern Iraq carried out by US and allied air forces plus the air blockade enforced through the northern and southern no-fly zones like their interwar British predecessors proved to be cost effective in limiting Saddam Hussein's regional influence.</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>