America's Conditional Advantage: Airpower, Counterinsurgency, and the Theory of John Warden - COIN, Airpower, French-Algerian War, Vietnam, Soviet Afghan War, Enemy as a System (EAS)

Nonfiction, History, Military, Vietnam War, Asian
Cover of the book America's Conditional Advantage: Airpower, Counterinsurgency, and the Theory of John Warden - COIN, Airpower, French-Algerian War, Vietnam, Soviet Afghan War, Enemy as a System (EAS) by Progressive Management, Progressive Management
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Progressive Management ISBN: 9781311075307
Publisher: Progressive Management Publication: April 26, 2015
Imprint: Smashwords Edition Language: English
Author: Progressive Management
ISBN: 9781311075307
Publisher: Progressive Management
Publication: April 26, 2015
Imprint: Smashwords Edition
Language: English

Professionally converted for accurate flowing-text e-book format reproduction, this study is a theoretical and historical exploration of the role and relevance of airpower in counterinsurgency (COIN). Despite an overwhelming material advantage in airpower and the popular belief that this provides America with an inherently beneficial warfighting asymmetry, the US struggles to realize the full value of airpower in COIN. The author proposes that airpower provides the US with a conditional advantage that must be deliberately unlocked through strategic deliberation. The author further proposes that a distinct theory of airpower for COIN is needed to foster and guide strategy formulation in order to optimize the application of airpower in this growing mission area. As a first step in developing this proposed theory, the author applies an existing airpower theory, Colonel John Warden's Enemy as a System, to three distinct historical cases in search of meaningful patterns.

After conditioning Warden's theory to account for the unique attributes of insurgent organizations, this study applies an analytical framework based on Enemy as a System in examining airpower operations in the French-Algerian War, the Vietnam War, and the Soviet-Afghan War. In each case, the framework examines how airpower was applied to key vulnerabilities within the insurgent organizational system, how such application impacted enemy behavior, and the overall relationship between the character of airpower operations and strategic outcomes. The findings derived from this analysis demonstrate that Warden's theory (1) unlocks the conditional advantage of airpower in COIN by explaining and guiding airpower strategy; (2) demonstrates how COIN requires a fundamentally different airpower approach than Major Combat Operations; and (3) shows the grave risks of airpower application in COIN absent a deliberate strategy.

In each of the three cases examined, counterinsurgents applied airpower in ways that failed to account for the realities of the insurgent organizational system and were insensitive to both the degree of immersion of the enemy within the local population and the critical need to earn population support. As a result, airpower operations were inordinately physical in their approach to a predominantly non-physical phenomenon, and were not properly shaped to support the goal of gaining and maintaining popular allegiance and legitimacy. The author draws clear links between these strategic missteps and the defeat of three established powers, each of which undertook COIN with an overwhelming material advantage in airpower but could not translate it into a battlefield advantage. In the closing chapter, the author demonstrates that airpower, when not properly shaped by strategic deliberation, can actually serve as a disadvantage to those who possess it asymmetrically. The author proposes that by applying a theoretical template such as Enemy as a System to the shaping of airpower in COIN, the US can avoid incurring this airpower penalty and optimize the role and relevance of airpower in defeating insurgent organizations. Organizational and policy recommendations accompany this finding.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

Professionally converted for accurate flowing-text e-book format reproduction, this study is a theoretical and historical exploration of the role and relevance of airpower in counterinsurgency (COIN). Despite an overwhelming material advantage in airpower and the popular belief that this provides America with an inherently beneficial warfighting asymmetry, the US struggles to realize the full value of airpower in COIN. The author proposes that airpower provides the US with a conditional advantage that must be deliberately unlocked through strategic deliberation. The author further proposes that a distinct theory of airpower for COIN is needed to foster and guide strategy formulation in order to optimize the application of airpower in this growing mission area. As a first step in developing this proposed theory, the author applies an existing airpower theory, Colonel John Warden's Enemy as a System, to three distinct historical cases in search of meaningful patterns.

After conditioning Warden's theory to account for the unique attributes of insurgent organizations, this study applies an analytical framework based on Enemy as a System in examining airpower operations in the French-Algerian War, the Vietnam War, and the Soviet-Afghan War. In each case, the framework examines how airpower was applied to key vulnerabilities within the insurgent organizational system, how such application impacted enemy behavior, and the overall relationship between the character of airpower operations and strategic outcomes. The findings derived from this analysis demonstrate that Warden's theory (1) unlocks the conditional advantage of airpower in COIN by explaining and guiding airpower strategy; (2) demonstrates how COIN requires a fundamentally different airpower approach than Major Combat Operations; and (3) shows the grave risks of airpower application in COIN absent a deliberate strategy.

In each of the three cases examined, counterinsurgents applied airpower in ways that failed to account for the realities of the insurgent organizational system and were insensitive to both the degree of immersion of the enemy within the local population and the critical need to earn population support. As a result, airpower operations were inordinately physical in their approach to a predominantly non-physical phenomenon, and were not properly shaped to support the goal of gaining and maintaining popular allegiance and legitimacy. The author draws clear links between these strategic missteps and the defeat of three established powers, each of which undertook COIN with an overwhelming material advantage in airpower but could not translate it into a battlefield advantage. In the closing chapter, the author demonstrates that airpower, when not properly shaped by strategic deliberation, can actually serve as a disadvantage to those who possess it asymmetrically. The author proposes that by applying a theoretical template such as Enemy as a System to the shaping of airpower in COIN, the US can avoid incurring this airpower penalty and optimize the role and relevance of airpower in defeating insurgent organizations. Organizational and policy recommendations accompany this finding.

More books from Progressive Management

Cover of the book 21st Century FEMA Study Course: Emergency Support Function #10 Oil and Hazardous Materials Response (IS-810) - NCP, National Oil and Gas Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan by Progressive Management
Cover of the book The Department of Homeland Security's Role in Protecting the National Economy: Border Trade Enforcement and Facilitation Missions to Provide Commercially Meaningful Benefits to Stakeholders by Progressive Management
Cover of the book A Plan for the Future: 10-Year Strategy for the Air Traffic Control Workforce 2011-2020, TRACON, Terminal and En Route Services, Training and Hiring Process, Staffing Requirements by Progressive Management
Cover of the book 2012 Complete Guide to North Korea (DRPK): Authoritative Coverage of Nuclear and Missile Programs, Kim Jong-il, Kim Jong-un, Confrontations with South Korea, Military, History, Economy, Human Rights by Progressive Management
Cover of the book Emotional Intelligence Competencies and the Army Leadership Requirements Model: Attributes of Self-awareness, Self-confidence, Self-control, Trustworthiness, Adaptability, Initiative, and Empathy by Progressive Management
Cover of the book Introduction to the United States Air Force: Extensive History of the Aircraft, Missiles, Satellites, Leaders, Heroes, Battles, Fighter Aces of the USAF from World War I to the 21st Century by Progressive Management
Cover of the book Airpower, Afghanistan, and the Future of Warfare: An Alternative View - Assessing the Air-Ground Relationship, Precision Strike, Change in Land Combat, Force Intensification, Doctrine Impact by Progressive Management
Cover of the book Nanoscience and Nanotechnology: Public Participation in Nanotechnology: Report of the National Nanotechnology Initiative Workshop - Convergence of Science and Society by Progressive Management
Cover of the book Apollo and America's Moon Landing Program: Apollo 11 Official NASA Mission Reports and Press Kit by Progressive Management
Cover of the book Colombia in Perspective: Orientation Guide and Spanish Cultural Orientation: Geography, History, Economy, Society, Security, Military, Religion, Amazon, Bogota, Medellin, Cali, Narcotrafficking by Progressive Management
Cover of the book Insurgents to Presidents: Contemporary Civil-Military Relations in Brazil, El Salvador, and Uruguay - Iron Lady Dilma Rousseff, Comandate Gonzalez, Sanchez Ceren Legacy, Pepe the Revolutionary, Mujica by Progressive Management
Cover of the book Reimagining The Man Who Would Be King: Narrative Fictional Adventure Story to Impart Counterinsurgency Theory to Busy and Easily Distracted Service Members Based on Afghanistan and Iraq Experience by Progressive Management
Cover of the book 21st Century FEMA Study Course: Multihazard Emergency Planning for Schools (IS-362) - Crisis Intervention, ICS, Testing and Drills, Drill Procedures by Progressive Management
Cover of the book Challenges in the Asia: Pacific Theater for U.S. and Partner Nation Special Operations Forces - China's Access Denial Doctrine and Capabilities, U.S. and Chinese Military Strengths and Weaknesses by Progressive Management
Cover of the book 21st Century Peacekeeping and Stability Operations Institute (PKSOI) Papers - The New Balance: Limited Armed Stabilization and the Future of U.S. Landpower, Land Force Optimization by Progressive Management
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy