Quote:
Originally Posted by S-2
the Air Force exercises great care in selecting targetsand uses the minimum explosive power possible to achieve the desired effect.
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The trouble is, right now, the "minimum explosive power" is 500lbs in most cases, which is a little bit too much most of the time. I've got to think a big reason the Air Force is working on some of the smaller sized bombs is exactly because they've realized this internally. But right now, when their only tool is a big hammer, I'm sure they're trying to look for nails everywhere.
Since the key terrain in a COIN fight is the population, it's very difficult for the Air Force alone to interact with them. I think that's why 3-24 envisions air assets to be a tied in with the ground commander's plan. The guys on the ground have a better feel of the population they're trying to effect, and thus need to have some say about what the air is doing.