The Role of United States Air Power in Peacekeeping

<p>In the aftermath of the cold war the world is witnessing a dramatic increase inregional conflict and associated United Nations peacekeeping operations. Recognizing this trend and the fact that peacekeeping can serve US national security interests US policymakers have earmarked military peacekeeping involvement theemployment of air power will be a natural consideration. Unfortunately there islittle practical or doctrinal guidance outlining the benefits and limitations of airpower within the peacekeeping paradigm. To remedy this situation this study firstprovides a general discussion of peacekeeping and constructs a comprehensiveframework to categorize and analyze the role of air power in peacekeeping. Next several recommendations are presented concerning command and control doctrineand organizational issues. In the end this study concludes that the role of air powerin peacekeeping is primarily auxiliary. Nevertheless among the potential US contributions to UN peacekeeping air power may be the best medium as it offers capabilities different from those currently available to UN forces. Moreover the use of airpower as opposed to ground peacekeeping forces will reduce the risk to Americanlives. Finally the expanded use of air power in UN peacekeeping presents an opportunity to demonstrate US leadership and resolve while avoiding the perception ofdominating the show.</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><br>