Full Description
With a new century and a new enemy came a new kind of war: low intensity and civilian-dominated, blending austere rural and dense urban environments alike. Into this new kind of war, the American military launched two invasions against terrorist networks and military rivals, relying on airpower—close air support (CAS)—at a scale never before seen in combat.The Global War on Terror was the "CAS war." Forward Air Controllers were on the front lines from the very first moments of the war, directing airstrikes against enemies in their safe havens, safeguarding friendly forces and civilians alike to their utmost, and achieving unprecedented success with limited resources. This volume captures the heroic accounts of the first Tactical Air Control Party (TACPs) in Afghanistan and Iraq, and how Close Air Support fundamentally reshaped the American war machine in the first five years of the War on Terror.
Contents
Preface
Introduction
PART I: Retribution
Afghanistan: 2001-2003
1 Into the graveyard of empires
2 Ancient roads to a New War
3 Rearranging God's furniture
4 Know thine enemy
PART II: A New World War
Iraq: 2003
5 The Pivot
6 Shock and Awe
7 Chasing Saddam
8 Dragging a nation out of a war
Part III: Evolving the Machine
Two distinct Wars: 2004-2006
9 Building a global architecture.
10 In Iraq's shadow
11 Rebuilding in ashes
12 Digitally aided Close Air Support
Afterword: Scratching the surface
