The Art of Aerial Warfare: Instrument of War, Political Dimensions, Military Effects of Strategic Attack, Douhet's Argument, Objectives of Attack, Realities of War, Unintended Asymmetric Consequences

This excellent report has been professionally converted for accurate flowing-text e-book format reproduction. This is a stimulating paper about conducting aerial warfare, defined as the use of the destructive instrument of airpower applied against an enemy in time of war. The author challenges Airmen to acquire mental agility commensurate with the unprecedented flexibility of their instruments.

The author begins with the Clausewitzian assumption, easily accepted in theory but difficult to maintain during combat, that war has the purpose of achieving political goals and that almost any reason for fighting a war has or soon acquires a political dimension. As he points out, the most difficult cases arise when the political objectives are difficult to reconcile with the reality of warfare: violence and casualties.

His discussion of the many obstacles to achieving military and political aims raises many issues facing Airmen today and does not hesitate to take unequivocal positions. His clear and compelling examination of the changing context of warfare makes a strong case that the enemy's fielded forces are still the best targets of airpower. His consideration of the tension between the "seductiveness" of the incremental approach and the legitimate need for political authorities to modulate the use of airpower is stimulating and forceful. His discussion of Douhet and the enduring fascination with "strategic attack" merits the consideration of those who plan modern aerial campaigns.

I recommend this book to anyone who wishes to engage in a serious discussion of the role of airpower in war. You will find much with which to agree and certainly much with which to take issue. The thinking that results from both will be of great value to the modern Airman.

CHAPTER 1 - INTRODUCTION: THE NATURE OF WAR * The Purpose of War * The Political Nature of War * Total War Versus Limited War * The Role of Natural Selection in the Evolution of Warfare * Trial and Error in Force Application * The Role and Influence of Chance * Notes * CHAPTER 2 - AERIAL WARFARE AS AN INSTRUMENT OF WAR * A Comparison of Aerial Warfare to Land Warfare * The Friction of the Medium * The Typewriter Analogy * CHAPTER 3 - THE POLITICAL DIMENSIONS OF AERIAL WARFARE * How Political Effects in Aerial Warfare Outweigh Military Effects * Political Targets Versus Military Targets * Problems in Attacking a Political Target * Reasons Political Leaders Modulate Airpower * Appeal of the Incremental Approach * Notes * CHAPTER 4 - MILITARY AND POLITICAL EFFECTS OF STRATEGIC ATTACK * The Premise of Strategic Attack * Douhet's Argument that Attacking Enemy Cities Breaks Civilian Morale * Douhet's Failure to Recognize Political Considerations over Military Expediency * Alternate Objectives of Strategic Attack * Strategic Attack against the Leader of an Enemy State * Strategic Attacks against Enemy Communication Links * Severing Communication Links * Strategic Attacks against Enemy Production Facilities and Wartime Stores * Strategic Attacks against Enemy Transportation Infrastructure * Strategic Attacks against Enemy Military Forces not Engaged in Battle * If Strategic Attack Does Not Warrant the Overriding Focus of Aerial Warfare: What Does? * Notes * CHAPTER 5 - THE REALITIES OF WAR * The Unintended Consequences of Asymmetric War * Does Victory on the Battlefield Determine the Victor in War? * National Power in the Achievement of Victory * The Fractured Battlefield * Limited Political Objectives Confront Military Consequences * Battle without Bloodshed * The Impact of Technology on War * Why Cyber Warfare Will Likely Remain an Adjunct to More Traditional Forms of War * The Political Character of Space and Cyber Targets * Deception in a Transparent World * Notes * CHAPTER 6 - CONCLUDING THOUGHTS AND OVERARCHING THEMES