Air Power vs. Boots on the Ground
Apr 9, 2015 12:16:06 GMT -6
Nugget, dirkgently, and 6 more like this
Post by Doug on Apr 9, 2015 12:16:06 GMT -6
We have all seen the news about how airstrikes have driven back various Nations enemies. And the next day or even hours later we see another article or statement saying that those same enemies are actually growing.
The powers that be, and I use that term loosely, seem to have no clue. Almost every one on the world stage is guilty of it. From Russia, to China, the USA....pretty much everyone.
Air Power is an asset, nothing more, nothing less. You still have to have that young kid on the ground to say you hold it. But it seems to me that the PTB in the West are getting burned out, because they have half-halfheartedly committed their children to combat with no end goals. Really!? Who wants to fight that fight?
The occasional use of cruise missiles or an airstrike I can see, but you can't fight a war with only that. Hell, there really hasn't been a war that has been declared since WW2, at least on the US side of things and look at how well that has turned out.
I am of the opinion that if you are going to commit to military force because your diplomats were a bunch of dumb asses or the other side wouldn't listen to reason, then you go all out. Make the sacrifice worth something...but really think it through first.
Enough of these feel good brush fire wars. They aren't accomplishing anything. If you're going to commit, be upfront and commit. All those drone strikes didn't stop ISIS or the downfall of the Yemeni Government. nor have they stopped the rise of Boko Harem or Al-Shabob.
Air superiority is a good thing and the West has the definitive advantage there. But we aren't following up on it. We need people on the ground as well doing battle and humanitarian work.
Will some of these third world countries become the next USA? Doubtful. But with the right incentive they could become the next best thing.
And that's just one of my opinions. Thanks for reading it.
Doug
The powers that be, and I use that term loosely, seem to have no clue. Almost every one on the world stage is guilty of it. From Russia, to China, the USA....pretty much everyone.
Air Power is an asset, nothing more, nothing less. You still have to have that young kid on the ground to say you hold it. But it seems to me that the PTB in the West are getting burned out, because they have half-halfheartedly committed their children to combat with no end goals. Really!? Who wants to fight that fight?
The occasional use of cruise missiles or an airstrike I can see, but you can't fight a war with only that. Hell, there really hasn't been a war that has been declared since WW2, at least on the US side of things and look at how well that has turned out.
I am of the opinion that if you are going to commit to military force because your diplomats were a bunch of dumb asses or the other side wouldn't listen to reason, then you go all out. Make the sacrifice worth something...but really think it through first.
Enough of these feel good brush fire wars. They aren't accomplishing anything. If you're going to commit, be upfront and commit. All those drone strikes didn't stop ISIS or the downfall of the Yemeni Government. nor have they stopped the rise of Boko Harem or Al-Shabob.
Air superiority is a good thing and the West has the definitive advantage there. But we aren't following up on it. We need people on the ground as well doing battle and humanitarian work.
Will some of these third world countries become the next USA? Doubtful. But with the right incentive they could become the next best thing.
And that's just one of my opinions. Thanks for reading it.
Doug
