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Air & Space Power Journal - Winter 2007

INTRODUCING THE CHINESE ASPJ
Air and Space Power Journal is a distinguished military-academic publication. The launch of its Chinese-language edition will have a very positive impact and help gain more Chinese-speaking readers. I wish to thank the editors.

Sun Dejian
Library Chief, People’s Liberation Army
Air Force Aviation University
Changchun, China

It was a pleasant surprise to discover the online inaugural version of Air and Space Power Journal—Chinese edition. First of all, the cover design attracted me. The idea of putting the Great Wall, a token of the Chinese armed forces, and the USAF emblem close together on the same page is symbolic in itself. Then I eagerly read the journal’s content. I found new and broad topics as well as unique and professional insights. But all of these are not what I want to discuss here. As a reader with years of Chinese military experience, I want to stress the social significance of this new journal.

That a renowned US military journal would publish a Chinese edition is an unprecedented event and a positive move for military professionals and readers in both China and the United States. The journal’s social and political significance may even exceed its academic value. Finally, Chinese and American military professionals may now stand on the same academic forum, exchanging ideas—a sign of a historical breakthrough.

The Cold War created misconceptions. In retrospect, the Chinese and US militaries confronted each other with minimal ideological exchange. Even recently, pointing fingers at each other dominated what little dialogue there was. For a long time, the Chinese side regarded the United States as a Western devil and bully, while the US side always referred to China as an undemocratic dictatorship. Such hostility and mind-sets originated from historical confrontations and ideological differences. Another important reason was that both sides looked inwards and refused to reach out for exchange, essentially freezing out any possibilities of professional military dialogue. The birth of Air and Space Power Journal—Chinese edition, therefore, is all the more important. It is like a spark of fire that spreads to melt the ice between China and the United States, dissipating the mist blocking each side’s vision of the other.

Like a stone thrown into water, the Chinese edition of Air and Space Power Journal is creating a ripple effect, the dynamics of which will push the militaries of both sides to engage seriously in professional exchange. Together, we study war, know war, eventually stop war, eliminate war, and move towards global peace. This, I believe, will be the long-term objective and contribution of the journal.

Zhi Jun
Retired Military Instructor, Chinese Police Academy
Fairfax, Virginia

A RESCUE FORCE FOR THE WORLD
As a rescue professional and advocate myself, I agree with everything said in the article “A Rescue Force for the World: Adapting Airpower to the Realities of the Long War” (Fall 2007), but I want to speak to one point that is missing. The article refers to potential new rescue-squadron locations and hints at the importance of properly managing rescue forces. None of these proposals could possibly become reality without a much larger rescue force than we now have. Our current small force is already heavily tasked around the globe. Sure, we as rescue professionals will jump at the chance to uphold our motto “That Others May Live,” but mostly at the cost of our family relationships due to a constant deployment schedule. Regardless of the rescue force’s willingness to participate in new initiatives, senior rescue leadership cannot ignore the impact on our low-density/high-demand forces when volunteering them around the world to do more. If we had the force structure today that we had in the glory days of the old Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Service, there would not even be a debate on this subject.

Lt Col John “JT” Taylor, USAF
Langley AFB, Virginia

COALITION OPERATIONS
I read Lt Col Paul Berg’s editorial “Coalition Operations” (Fall 2007) and agree that the United States has enjoyed many close and personal partnerships with other countries; however, based on what I have seen of the war on terrorism over the past few years, I wonder if we have overlooked anyone who might have benefited from working with a multinational force. Did we inadvertently isolate anyone who could have been a team player? For example, Russian president Vladimir Putin is pulling his military arsenal of ships and nuclear-capable bombers out of mothballs and trying to build coalitions with China, Iran, Syria, and North Korea. Russia has also been having military exercises with China. I guess this is Putin’s way of reacting to US-led coalitions around the world. I fear that these developments may lead Russia into renewed isolationism and increase the risk of a nuclear-arms race and new form of Cold War. I really do not foresee China being a staunch ally to Russia. China is quickly developing its own independent space, ballistic-missile, and naval programs. So how do we as a superpower tap into those countries for the war on terrorism?

Capt Steven “Schaff” Schaffhouser, USAF
Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base
Willow Grove, Pennsylvania

REVISITING LEADERSHIP
IN THE ARMED FORCES
I liked Air Commodore Aslam Bazmi’s article “Revisiting Leadership in the Armed Forces” (Fall 2007) for the clear and concrete guidance he provided on what it takes to become a great leader—guidance that applies in both military and nonmilitary organizations. I appreciated his scholarship, as evidenced by highly relevant quotations from the works of a number of well-respected leaders, and enjoyed his erudite presentation.

In addition, given the times, it struck me that many Americans might be pleasantly surprised to realize the source of this splendid work. There are many, unfortunately, who tend to diminish the capabilities and contributions of our allies, such as Pakistan. Air Commodore Bazmi’s article clearly demonstrates a level of knowledge and professionalism we can all admire, founded on values we all share.

Frank J. Hannaford
Omaha, Nebraska

NASH IN NAJAF
I think that Dr. Hank Brightman’s article “Nash in Najaf: Game Theory and Its Applicability to the Iraqi Conflict” (Fall 2007) made a valiant effort to quantify the incentives facing both the Iraqi domestic insurgents and the indigenous security forces (ISF). The author’s depth of knowledge in the subject of economics and game theory certainly earns his views great respect. However, I believe that he made a considerable assumption with his weight assignments in figure 1 (“Iraqi conflict as a simple form game”), particularly in the “Active, Active” quadrant. It’s impossible to say what the true outcome of this “game” would be for either side, but I would argue that it is at least possible that the ISF’s continued resistance against Iraqi insurgents might bring them more benefit than cost, especially within a context of emerging democracy, human rights, and social freedoms for them and their families. Further, the stakes are high for the Free World and our war on terror in the region. Therefore, my hope is that unified persistence in Iraq by coalition forces will create favorable incentives which might prevent ISF defection. For the sake of the great investment and sacrifice our soldiers have made and continue to make in training and equipping the ISF, I hope that Dr. Brightman’s prediction proves incorrect.

Brian MacLean
Travis AFB, California

MAJ GEN WILLIAM “BILLY” MITCHELL: A PYRRHIC PROMOTION
I disagree with what Lt Col Donald Rehkopf says in his article “Reply to ‘Maj Gen William “Billy” Mitchell: A Pyrrhic Promotion’ ” (Fall 2007). I deem the demotion and early retirement of Brig Gen Billy Mitchell to have been a great injustice. In my opinion, General Mitchell proved his case, never gave up his integrity, and epitomized our core value of “service before self.” I think that he stands alongside the commanding general of the Army Air Forces in World War II, Gen Henry “Hap” Arnold, and should be the second and perhaps only other Air Force general afforded five-star rank. Without the stepping-stones built through General Mitchell’s sacrifices, General Arnold’s accomplishments might not have been possible.

MSgt Howard White, USAF, Retired
Charleston, South Carolina

DEFINING INFORMATION OPERATIONS FORCES
I agree with the authors of “Defining Information Operations Forces: What Do We Need?” (Summer 2007), who note the numerous information operations career fields within the Air Force and other services. It seems only natural that there should be some consolidation of these career fields. We could then make sound, effective decisions to better prepare for the vast changes that will take place in the future.

Mr. Michael Fleenor
Diego Garcia, British Indian Ocean Territory

LEADERSHIP: AN OLD DOG’S VIEW
“The leader is the first into the traces and the last out. The leader eats last and eats least. The leader treats every member of the team with meticulous fairness. The leader encourages affection for the team but never for himself or herself. The leader is honest, and this bears repeating—the leader is honest. More than any power the leader has, the leader is most judicious with the authority to lead the team into harm’s way” (p. 18).

After reading Mr. C. R. Anderegg’s article “Leadership: An Old Dog’s View” (Summer 2007), I was impressed by the profound depth and wisdom of the above passage, which can be considered a summary of very useful lessons. In my particular case, these lessons will enrich my performance as a leader in the Colombian Air Force’s Combat Squadron 212, which flies the T-27 Tucano, and will support my teaching mission as a team instructor. I also wish to point out that the experiences Mr. Anderegg mentions in his article are the result of a spirit imbued with knowledge that I hope to attain in the future and towards which I am working diligently so I can better understand this new world full of struggles, failures, and successes that is open to women military aviators.

Lt Liliana Paola Vergara Gutiérrez, Colombian Air Force
Villavicencio, Colombia

AIRPOWER’S CRUCIAL ROLE
IN IRREGULAR WARFARE
I read with great interest Gen Allen G. Peck’s article “Airpower’s Crucial Role in Irregular Warfare” (Summer 2007). With his experience and strategic vision, General Peck has crafted a well-considered response and line of thought adapted to the latest questions about how airpower should meet asymmetric challenges. General Peck’s article also made me realize there is a shortage of historiography on his topic. While reading the article, I was reminded that aviation employment in asymmetric warfare is nothing new. The Ottoman Turks used it with a certain degree of success in World War I against Lawrence of Arabia’s Arab tribes. Additionally, the French victory in the 1925 Riff Rebellion in Morocco cannot entirely be explained without the considerable contribution, in all facets of that war against Abd el-Krim, of the 39th Aviation Regiment of Colonel Armengaud, who wrote about the subject. One could also talk about the 37th Aviation Regiment’s operations against the Druze in the Syrian mountains during the early 1930s. However, to my knowledge, few studies have been written about the employment of aviation in these modern, asymmetric wars. One thing is certain, and it shows up clearly in General Peck’s article: aviation is an arm distinguished by the global nature of its action, and modern conflicts—most notably World War II and the Cold War—have tended to confine high-altitude air superiority and the clashes of air forces to a remote and almost abstract role. We need to rediscover close-combat aviation and perhaps also complete the range of aerial means with slower, long-endurance aircraft in order to more completely “occupy” the sky during asymmetric conflicts.

Lt Tim Larribau, French Air Force Reserve
Bordeaux, France

FIT (AND READY) TO FIGHT
The Iron Tiger martial-arts concept mentioned by 2d Lt Nickolas Stewart in his article “Fit (and Ready) to Fight: Strengthening Combat Readiness through Controlled-Aggression Training” (Summer 2007) is a great idea. Unfortunately, the USAF seems more focused on sports such as wiffle ball and ultimate frisbee than on close-quarters combat. The troops ­really need warrior-oriented activities and a hard-core training method to instill a warrior ethos. Gen Curtis LeMay was one of the first to implement such a program with Strategic Air Command’s combat judo program back in the 1950s. Many USAF personnel were trained in Japan and sent back to their home units to teach combat skills and the warrior ethos. Merely repeating the mantra “I am a warrior” in our minds will not make us warriors. Instead, we must train combat skills with both our brains and bodies to become warriors. Running and sit-ups will help but are not enough. We must have training in combat to win in combat. Mixed martial arts are not the correct method or solution, however. I think that a classical, proven combat system of any stripe (and there are many) would be a better choice. The troops would love it. They are eager and ready to learn combat skills. Would current leadership back and promote an “Iron Tiger Air Force” combat hand-to-hand training program? I don’t know, but one thing I do know for sure is that General LeMay would be glad to see such a program reborn in his Air Force.

Mr. Perry Pfeiffer
Vandenberg AFB, California

THE EFFECTS-BASED APPROACH TO OPERATIONS (EBAO)
I enjoyed the articles “The Effects-Based Approach to Operations: Questions and Answers” and “Five Propositions Regarding Effects-Based Operations” (Spring 2006). They accurately and objectively clarify the concept and general idea of effects-based operations as the primary element in planning military operations. The authors’ presentations are so clear that they turn this theory into an element that is clearly applicable to other disciplines, such as business administration. Being familiar with EBAO as a business consultant has made me ponder the possibility of designing effects-based consulting plans, using as principal elements the constructs presented in the two articles mentioned above. In my opinion, those articles are clear evidence of the quality of the materials presented in Air and Space Power Journal. They are valuable, and they represent an important contribution to the community that has access to them. Congratulations on your publication.

Eustorgio Rodado Fuentes
Bogotá, Colombia

Disclaimer

The conclusions and opinions expressed in this document are those of the author cultivated in the freedom of expression, academic environment of Air University. They do not reflect the official position of the U.S. Government, Department of Defense, the United States Air Force or the Air University

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