Editorial By Adam J. Hebert, Editor in Chief The Airpower Advantage in

n June, the ongoing sectarian con- US launched 68 air strikes from Aug. 8 not end Iraq’s problems. ISIS is “very Iflict in Iraq began to look less like a through 18. Six strikes per day seems well-organized. They are very well- civil war and more like a traditional land inconsequential, but a little airpower can equipped,” Mayville noted. “They coor- war—a land war the Iraqi government go a long way—as was seen around dinate their operations. And they have was quickly losing to the terrorist orga- Mount Sinjar and the . thus far shown the ability to attack on nization known as ISIS or ISIL. Air Force F-15Es, F-16s, and MQ-1s, multiple axes. This is not insignificant.” By August, enough was enough and and Navy F/A-18s “have helped check Within Iraq, several institutional prob- President Obama authorized limited US the advance of ISIL forces,” Mayville lems must still be addressed. First, air strikes, requested by the Iraqi govern- reported. Iraqi security forces were routed by ment. Iraqi and Kurdish ground forces More than 60 intelligence, surveil- ISIS, showing they lack the quality and halted the ISIS advances and registered lance, and reconnaissance aircraft were discipline expected of them. A renewed their first meaningful victories against overhead, and air strikes were “providing US training and advisory mission may the terrorists who had seized much of the Kurdish security forces with time to be necessary. the country. Second, as Obama has made clear, America’s willingness to employ air- ISIS was on a roll the US will not be Iraq’s air force. The power to support Iraqi forces had an US can assist, as it did in August, but immediate and profound effect and may until the US moved to self-defense is ultimately up to the have turned the tide. The air strikes are support Iraq with airpower. Iraqis. “to support Iraqi security forces and Third, and most importantly, the Kurdish defense forces as they work fortify their defensive positions with the political climate in Iraq must change. A together to combat ISIL,” according to supplies they’re receiving from the cen- critical step took place here, too, when US Central Command, and “to protect tral government of ,” he said. Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki finally critical infrastructure, US personnel and Next came Mosul Dam. The dam is agreed to step aside after two terms and facilities, and support humanitarian ef- a decrepit but vital structure north of eight years in power. Maliki nurtured forts.” Mosul that was also under ISIS control. a harsh, majority rule government in Although the employment was very If destroyed, Mosul Dam’s waters could Iraq—alienating ethnic and religious limited, it happened. US fighter aircraft, have caused devastating flooding in minorities and sowing the seeds of Air Force bombers, and remotely piloted Mosul (still ISIS-held) and as far as discontent that ultimately led to ISIS’ aircraft struck ISIS positions and allowed Baghdad. The ISIS defenders were in incursion. indigenous ground forces to take the protected positions. Peaceful, democratic transitions are initiative. This was a stark contrast to ISIS has a large inventory of useful a rarity in the , so Maliki the events of June, when ISIS—outnum- military equipment, much of it abandoned stepping down is a huge step. For Iraq’s bered and at the time outgunned—rap- by the Iraqi security forces who fled the good—and America’s—the US should idly swept Iraq’s security forces aside terrorists. According to CENTCOM, on do everything it can to help ensure and seized huge swathes of territory. Aug. 17 alone 14 air strikes “damaged or Iraq’s next government is representa- US intervention was triggered by the destroyed 10 ISIL armed vehicles, seven tive and inclusive. Mount Sinjar crisis, a potential humani- ISIL Humvees, two ISIL armored person- “Americans have learned that it’s tarian disaster alleviated thanks to USAF nel carriers, and one ISIL checkpoint.” harder to end wars than it is to begin airpower. Some unknown thousands of By “the end of the second day of their them,” Obama said in May. “Yet this is refugees had fled marauding ISIS forces, ground offensive, backed by Iraqi troops how wars end in the 21st century—not seeking sanctuary on Mount Sinjar. For and US air strikes, the Kurdish forces through signing ceremonies, but through a short time the refugees were trapped. had wrested back control of the fragile decisive blows against our adversaries, In response, the President ordered dam and driven out militants,” The Wall transitions to elected governments, the Air Force into action. “C-17 and Street Journal reported. [and] security forces who take the lead C-130 aircrews began a coordinated se- In the short-term, ISIS forces are now and ultimately full responsibility.” ries of humanitarian assistance airdrop faced with a choice. The fighters can Four months ago, Obama’s words missions to provide aid to the refugees,” continue to operate like a field army seemed a wishful-thinking declaration Army Lt. Gen. William C. Mayville Jr., and face near-certain destruction from of victory for Afghanistan and Iraq. Now Joint Staff operations director, explained the air if or when the US chooses to that the US has again militarily stood up Aug. 11. engage them, or they can disperse and for Iraq, the words have new relevance. All told, according to a USAF news try to melt into a population that despises Lasting peace is much more likely if release, the Air Force delivered the them. There are already signs ISIS is the US maintains influence and a pres- refugees near the Syrian border more choosing the latter, although this makes ence in-country, and is willing to step than 114,000 meals and 35,000 gallons it much more difficult for it to seize or up and provide military top cover. The of water, with more than 100 pallets hold territory—let alone create a new Administration may have finally learned delivered a day. Islamic state. this in Iraq, and there is still time to Then air strikes helped break the A week’s worth of battlefield suc- secure a limited, useful, and lasting pres- siege. According to CENTCOM data, the cesses enabled by US airpower do ence in Afghanistan. n

4 AIR FORCE Magazine / September 2014