Tyler Hicks/The New York Times
Cmdr. Layne McDowell, 38, aboard the aircraft carrier John C. Stennis. He has flown sorties over Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan.
Posted on 01/16/2012 7:31:36 PM PST by sukhoi-30mki
A Changed Way of War in Afghanistan’s Skies
By C. J. CHIVERS
INSIDE STRIKE FIGHTER VENGEANCE 13, over Kandahar Province, Afghanistan — Cmdr. Layne McDowell glanced over his left shoulder, through the canopy of a Navy F/A-18, to an Afghan canyon 9,000 feet below. An American infantry company was down there.
The soldiers had been inserted by helicopter. Now a ground controller wanted the three strike fighters circling overhead to send a sign — both to the grunts and to any Taliban fighters shadowing them as they walked.
Commander McDowell banked and aligned his jet’s nose with the canyon’s northeastern end. Then he followed his wingmen’s lead. He dived, pulled level at 5,000 feet and accelerated down the canyon’s axis at 620 miles per hour, broadcasting his proximity with an extended engine roar.
In the lexicon of close air support, his maneuver was a “show of presence” — a mid-altitude, nonlethal display intended to reassure ground troops and signal to the Taliban that the soldiers were not alone. It reflected a sharp shift in the application of American air power, de-emphasizing overpowering violence in favor of sorties that often end without munitions being dropped.
The use of air power has changed markedly during the long Afghan conflict, reflecting the political costs and sensitivities of civilian casualties caused by errant or indiscriminate strikes and the increasing use of aerial drones, which can watch over potential targets for extended periods with no risk to pilots or more expensive aircraft.
Fighter jets with pilots, however, remain an essential component of the war, in part because little else in the allied arsenal is considered as versatile or imposing, and because of improvements in the aircraft’s sensors.
Commander McDowell’s career has followed the arc of this changing role. At the outset of the war
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
Tyler Hicks/The New York Times
Cmdr. Layne McDowell, 38, aboard the aircraft carrier John C. Stennis. He has flown sorties over Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan.
Can any muzzie be considered a civilian non-jihadist non-combatant?
About 6 canisters of napalm on a Taliban formation will send one helluva better message, as in “Fuck with our troops and we will fry you nuts to hell”.
These ROE suck and our guys are dying because of it.
We need a Patton (let the enemy die for their cause), not a pansy (look at me, I’m pretty) to lead us.
Oh, and about the “Coward in Chief”, impeachment is necessary, NOW!
Yes. Next question?
Which one?
Sounds like a military strategy that could really take hold under a leader like Obama.
“About 6 canisters of napalm on a Taliban formation will send one helluva better message, as in “Fuck with our troops and we will fry you nuts to hell”.”
Mix in some lard to really send a message.
And, another thing to think about is when Reagan and the Bushes were on vacations......Daddy Bush fishing....Reagan in boots chopping wood and W in a ball cap and boots using a chain saw. And, the sissy is always riding what looks like his daughters' girls' bicycle.
Obama doesn’t want our military killing his muslim pals.
The Administration is spending lots of money to educate senior military in the use of so called “soft power”. This type of show of force won’t work for long. The enemy will get the word..lie low for an hour or so and wait for the jets to leave.
Make a scary noise!
Oooooo!
On the Inhabitants of the Middle East
200 years from now, I want their children’s children’s children’s children to cower and cringe in fear whenever they hear the sounds of jet engines overhead because their legends tell of fire from the sky.
I want them to hide in dark caves and holes in the earth, shivering with terror whenever they hear the roar of diesel engines because the tales of their ancestors talk about metal monsters crawling over the earth, spitting death and destruction.
I want their mothers to be able to admonish them with “If you don’t behave, the Pale Destroyers will come for you”, and that will be enough to reduce them to quivering obeisance.
I want the annihilation to be so complete that their mythology will tell them of the day of judgment when the stern gods from across the sea .. the powerful ‘Mericans .. destroyed their forefathers’ wickedness.
By BlueLancer
13 SEP 01
Don’t fly too low.
You might hurt their feelings!
Isn't that special, Hussein has now introduce kinder and gentler ROE. What a Pu**Y, I am sure that impressives the muzzies so much............
Blue put it well.
Hummm
Hummm
I like that
Make it so
Yes, do that a couple of times and the terrorists will figure out how to “ambush” a jet because they do not fear what it can do. We play this game, they fight it for real.
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