Air power in the new counterinsurgency era : the strategic importance of USAF advisory and assistance missions / Alan J. Vick ... [et al.].

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Vick, Alan.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Counterinsurgency--United States.

Counterinsurgency.

Air power--United States.

Air power.

Military assistance, American.

Military missions.

World politics--21st century.

World politics.

United States. Air Force.

United States.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (205 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Santa Monica, CA : RAND Corp., 2006.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

Often treated by Americans as an exceptional form of warfare, insurgency is anything but. Spanning the globe, centuries, and societies, insurgency is quite common. Given the threat insurgency presents to U.S. interests and allies around the world, the importance of counterinsurgency is no surprise. However, history has shown that insurgencies are rarely defeated by outside powers. Rather, the best role for outsiders is an indirect one: training, advising, and equipping the local nation, which must win the war politically and militarily. And while counterinsurgency might seem to be a task most

Contents:

Cover; Preface; Contents; Figures; Tables; Summary; Acknowledgments; Abbreviations; Chapter One - Introduction; Background; The Dilemma of Intervention; Purpose and Organization of This Monograph; Chapter Two - The Evolving Insurgency Challenge; Introduction; Defining Insurgency; Categorizing Insurgencies; Sources of Insurgency; Insurgency and U.S. Security; Conclusion; Chapter Three - The Challenge of Counterinsurgency: Lessons from the Cold War and After; Introduction; Four Principles; Conclusion; Chapter Four - Grand Strategy and Counterinsurgency; Introduction

Assessing Insurgent Threats to U.S. National SecurityGrand Strategies for Small Wars; Options for Counterinsurgency Intervention; Investing in Counterinsurgency Capabilities; The Roles of Allies in Counterinsurgency; Chapter Five - A New Framework of Understanding and Responding to Insurgencies; The Application of Military Power to Counterinsurgency; Security Cooperation and Foreign Internal Defense; Some Caveats on Early Intervention; The Power and Limitations of Military Assistance:The El Salvador Experience; El Salvador: Lessons for Future CounterinsurgencyOperations

Chapter Six - The USAF Role in Countering InsurgenciesThe Role of Air Power in Counterinsurgency Operations; How Should We Think About the Role of Air Power inCounterinsurgency?; Current USAF Operational Aviation Advising Activities; Estimating Demand for Operational Aviation Advising; Expanding and Deepening USAF Capabilities to CounterInsurgencies; Chapter Seven - Conclusions; Final Thoughts; Appendix A - States Afflicted by Insurgency; Appendix B - Estimating Manpower Requirements for Advisory Assistance; Bibliography

Notes:

"MG-509."

Includes bibliographical references (p. 159-180).

ISBN:

1-281-18096-3

9786611180966

0-8330-4254-8

OCLC:

476119943

Access Restriction:

Open access Unrestricted online access