Can "Airpower" Counter the Asymmetric Threat? Factors Influencing the Employment of Air-Power Against International Terrorist Threats
Abstract
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, Interagency cooperation at the heart of U.S. efforts to fight terrorism has been recently criticized and requires some level of reform. Additionally, high-level decisions pertaining to the employment of airpower, and military force in general, has been negatively influenced by what has been termed the "casualty aversion mindset" a factor of particular concern when fighting the asymmetric terrorist threat, This essay begins with an introduction to the term "asymmetric" and a discussion of what it means to the military Attention is then focused to the "new generation" terrorist threat the military must be postured to fight.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 01, 2001
- Accession Number
- ADA408803
Entities
People
- Robert S. Barr
Organizations
- Air Command and Staff College