On Fri, 05 Jan 2007 04:44:44 GMT, "Ski"
wrote:

In a insurgency where the enemy is running generally inside your ability to
react (OODA Loop) - could be seconds instead of minutes - I think there
should be a general rule or baseline for conduct of operations. That is
that no unit, small or large, that goes outside of their safe-zone, goes
without a suitable "eye-in-the-sky" that can provide both day and night
early warning, persistent surveillance, and near instant ability to either
call in or provide weapons on target. If we simply had that - and after
billions spent needlessly it is not a big order - many lives could be saved
and many IED and ambush type situations would be thwarted and many escaping
bad guys would be dealt with. Only by having a "hammer" to react to being
fired upon first (unfortunate general situation for the friendlies in an
insurgency) can the friendlies retain anything like an offensive advantage

Having aerial recce makes a difference, and having efficient CAS
within reach can be a life-saver. However, the insurgents are
incorporated in the local population, and will be feeding off accounts
of US activity when the helicopters can be heard, and even observing
aircraft movements in some cases.

One of the primary tactics in this sort of situation is to be prepared
to use small infantry patrols, planned, routed and operated with
skill, to provide observation without the insurgents and locals
knowing that they are around. This is exceptionally difficult in some
areas in Iraq, but not all of them. Paradoxically, the more
technological resources you deploy to secure them (AFVs, aircraft,
etc), the harder it is to make that kind of basic operation
successful.

I suppose it all comes down to using the appropriate tactic in the
appropriate context; doctrinaire responses to the situation - of all
kinds, including "no CAS" or "no artillery", as well as "maximal
forece protection" - will tend to prove inefficient. My view is that
anything beyond a specific and discriminate use of air power risks
counter-productive results, while aerial recce complements
ground-based observation and visa versa.

Gavin Bailey


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