Airpower Journal, Published Quarterly, Is the Professional Journal of the United States Air Force
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Secretary of the Air Force Dr Sheila E. Widnall Air Force Chief of Staff Gen Merrill A. McPeak Commander, Air Education and Training Command Gen Henry Viccellio, Jr. Commander, Air University Lt Gen Jay VV. Kelley Commander, College of Aerospace Doctrine, Research, and Education Col Paul R. Dordal Editor Lt Col Richard B. Clark Associate Editor Maj Gwendolyn D. Fayne Professional Staff Hugh Richardson, Contríbuting Editor Marvin VV. Bassett, Contríbuting Editor Steven C. Garst, Director of Art and Production Daniel M. Armstrong. lllustrator L. Susan Fair, lllustrator Thomas L. Howell. Prepress Production Manager The Airpower Journal, published quarterly, is the professional journal of the United States Air Force. It is designed to serve as an open fórum for the presentation and stimulation of innova- tive thinking on military doctrine, strategy, tac- tics, force structure, readiness, and other mat- ters of national defense. The views and opin- ions expressed or implied in the Journal are those of the authors and should not be con- strued as carrying the official sanction of the Department of Defense, the Air Force, Air Education and Training Command, Air University, or other agencies or departments of the US government. Articles in this edition may be reproduced in whole or in part without permission. If they are reproduced, the Airpower Journal requests a courtesy line. * O JOURNAL Spring 1994, Vol. VIII, No. 1 AFRP 10-1 Editorial 2 JFACC Problems Associated with Battlefield Preparation in Desert Storm Col Richard B. H. Lewis, USAF 4 Close Air Support: R e p e a t i n g t h e P a s t . A g a i n ? Capt Scott A. Fedorchak, USA 22 Surprise and Intelligence: Towards a Clearer Understanding Maj Jeffrey 0'Leary, USAF 34 D efiling the Altar: The W eaponization of Space Lt Col Michael E. Baum, USAF 52 A Critique of T he A ir Ccimpciign Lt Col Timothy G. Murphy, USAF 63 Ricochets Letters 3 Net Assessment Reviews of Current Literature 76 Contributors 95 For paid subscription information, see page 94. For basis of issue and official distribution information, see page 75. EDITORIAL WHAT DOES IT MATTER ANYMORE? A Perspective on Honor Honor's a fine imaginary notion. —Joseph Addison, Cato DEM0NSTRATED leadership ability at But many people seem concerned with an early age, leading the neighbor's all this values stuff. Quite a few studies children1 in a candy-stealing expedition to over the last 20 years have noted a “values the local drugstore when I was six. We crisis” in the Air Force. Some of them vvere quite happy with our ill-gotten gains note that perceptions of ethical issues until their father, an Air Force officer, vary by rank: the more sênior the officer, found out. He stronglv explained to me the less likelv he or she is to perceive an the error of mv vvays and then marched ethical problem. Perhaps that explains me and the tearful but guilty group to the the recent spate of scandals involving top- store to make restitution. Next, he turned level officials. Similar findings come me over to my own father, who dealt with from another Air Force ethics study of the my backside. Oddly, this experience rank and file, though the majority of made a great impression on the develop- respondents was well aware of the stan- ment of my moral character. dards of behavior for Air Force officers. A Nowadays, of course, I don’t think you'd significant number, however, simply find inany Air Force officers willing to chose not to obey them. Do the findings confront and discipline the neighbor’s of these two studies indicate that, over children. Anyone who chanced it would time, people who violate their con- probablv be sued. After all, modem child sciences long enough lose the ability to psychologists (and proponents of situa- discern right from wrong? tional ethics) would likelv argue that the Certainly, there will always be excep- children never did anything wrong in the first place. They were probablv only find- tions. Jomini claimed that “being capable ing a nonviolent expression for their quite of distinguishing right from wrong and normal frustration. Certainlv, to accuse choosing the right is a virtue that is indis- children of “stealing” pins too harsh a pensable in our profession.” Some offi- labei on those so young. Besides, a con- cers are still willing to commit to lives of frontation over the issue could quite possi- personal integrity. Several months ago at bly damage their little developing psv- a farewell luncheon. I watched in amaze- ches. ment as person after person attested to All this talk about values is rather what the departing field-grade commander tedious. Everv time I look in my in-bas- had meant to them personally and to their ket, I find something espousing "OLJR unit. NCOs told of how this man had CORE VALUES: Integritv, Courage, Ser- “restored their faith in the officer corps." vice," and so forth. Don't our leaders They liberallv used words like integrity, know that sociologists have decided that Service, tenacity, and competence (amid a moral absolutes no longer exist? Besides, sprinkling of tears no less!). Hmmm. Per- how can the Air Force expect people haps core values matter after all. and raised in an environment of situational mavbe—just maybe—one person reallv ethics and values clarification to even can make a difference in someone’s life. care? GDF 2 E T S Letters to the editor are encouraged. All corre- índia, Pakistan. Japan, Brazil, and so forth spondence should be addressed to the Editor. develop space booster capabilities, courtesy Airpower Journal. 401 Chennault Circle, agreements will be extended and launch noti- Maxwell AFB AL 36112-6428. We resenhe the Fications will become required. In contrast, a right to edit the material for overall length. cruise missile announces itself upon arrival. The matter of basing the CICBM in a nuclear- free zone may be counter to current national M1SS1LE MAELSTROM policy. We neither confirm nor deny the pres- ence of nuclear warheads on any weapon Sys- The title of the article by Lt Col John R. London tem. The capabilitv to loft a nuclear-armed III ("The Ultimate Standoff Weapon.” Sunnner reentry vehicle will still be a capability of the 1993) interested me. but the basis for a con- CICBM. Colonel London’s statement that war- ventional intercontinental ballistic missile head choice could include nonlethal weapons (CICBM) falis short. floored me. Why use an ICBM to drop leaflets First are his concerns over current cruise or tear gas? missile technology. Colonel London points to Finally, the article identifies three areas in the raid of 17 January 1993 on Baghdad to which a CICBM would be "highly effective.” highlight the “vulnerability” of cruise missiles. The first is in demonstrating resolve. Sorry, The point is that all weapon systems, including but our NCA has ainple systems to demon- CICBMs, have a probability of kill of less than strate resolve. One more tool in the toolbox 1.0. We launched a sufficient number of will not bestow greater resoluteness upon the cruise missiles to strike the target to the degree NCA. The second mission is crisis response, set by national command authorities (NCA). Londons example being the quick destruction He feels that cruise missiles are slow in retar- of a threatening weapon (North Korean nuke?). geting. This may be true. but the process is no This point has merit, provided there are no slovver than rolling out and fueling a liquid- other weapon systems available to eliminate propellant CICBM. One should also consider what I presume is a serious threat to our the hours/davs that the NCA may take in national security. In my mind, the only threat deciding how to react. Further, the range of at this levei would be a nuclear weapon. This cruise missiles could be extended by using a presents its own dilemma. What if the conven- smaller warhead. Couple this possibility with tional warhead fails to destroy the threat? the whiz-bang guidance technology of a What if the CICBM strike results in a nuclear CICBM. and we could put a 200-pound bomb yield, due to faulty safeguard systems in the in the bedroom of a foreign command element 1.000 miles inland (from 300 miles offshore). threat? (A further issue must be a redefining of nuclear launch on warning. but this problem Second is the statement that “overflight of foreign territories should not be an issue since will first necessitate a visit to the Judge Advo- a missile‘s trajectory is largely in space” (page cate General.) The third area of CICBM effec- 66). I disagree. We could not overfly a nalion tiveness is in the leading edge of a combined with ballistic missile warning radars (imagine arms attack. It “could not only attack the most how a friendly 20-minute warning can alter heavily defended targets. but could do so with the effect of a strike). a nation with nuclear no warning whatsoever to most potential weapons of any type (as Colonel London adversaries” (pages 66-67). As time has per- implies), or any of the myriad nations that mitted a combined arms attack, Colonel Lon- would protest such an action. Additionallv, no don just described the F-117. opposing/nonaligned national leader will be The cold reality is that the most effective pre- comfortable with our stating that the warhead cision guided munition ever conceived is not is conventional as it descends over his or her held by the Air Force, lt is the saboteur.