Iraq and the AC-130 Gunships Unleashed
Abstract
The purpose of this paper is to save American lives and improve the chances of a successful outcome in Iraq. Costly and demoralizing attacks continue unabated against coalition and Iraqi ground forces. Working hard to support these forces are AC-130 gunships and crews. They fly every night in Iraq but rarely identify a single insurgent due to the inefficient manner in which they are requested by the Army and employed by the Air Force. This article shows how a simple yet fundamental change in AC 130 employment can kill or capture more insurgents, save friendly lives, and improve prospects for coalition success. The author argues that instead of patrolling assigned cover for specific ground forces, the AC-130 crews should be allowed to actively search for insurgent activity and respond accordingly.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 2007
- Accession Number
- ADA480950
Entities
People
- Robert J. Seifert