McChrystal on air power
October 14th, 2009 | Afghanistan | Posted by Erik Holmes
New York Times reporter Dexter Filkins’ excellent profile of Gen. Stanley McChrystal, the commander of U.S. Force Afghanistan, contains a little tid-bit that might raise a few eyebrows around the Air Force.
While speaking to a group of senior coalition commanders after an air strike on an Afghan compound, McChrystal reportedly said:
“Gentlemen, we need to understand the implications of what we are doing. Air power contains the seeds of our own destruction. A guy with a long-barrel rifle runs into a compound, and we drop a 500-pound bomb on it? … If we use air power irresponsibly, we can lose this fight.”
It is no secret that McChrystal thinks air power needs to be used more judiciously — as I reported recently — and it seems probable that is all he was trying to say. But the “seeds of our own destruction” comment caught my attention as a particularly blunt way to put it, and one not likely to win him a lot of fans in the fighter pilot community.
Comments
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Jake Trabor Says:
October 15th, 2009 at 10:42 amCongratulations to General McChrystal for telling it like it is.
And shame on the thin-skinned prima-donnas in the arrested-development frat-boy playland that is the USAF Fighter Community if they live up to their stereotype by whining about this.
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Raymond Lewis Says:
October 15th, 2009 at 11:14 amJake,
The guys on the ground call for the prima-donnas to drop the bombs. They put the iron where and when it’s called for. So who is the thin-skinned whiner now? By the way, I’m not a pilot – but I have 30 plus years in the Army and Air Force.
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what? Says:
October 15th, 2009 at 12:06 pmWhen a combined combatant commander criticizes a part of his own command, should he be to blame or is the Air Force to blame for what essentially he says is a violation of the LOAC.
“Proportionality. Proportionality prohibits the use of any kind or degree of force that exceeds that needed to accomplish the military objective. Proportionality compares the military advantage gained to the harm inflicted while gaining this advantage.”
When a 500lb bomb is used to take out a single individual with an AK-47, proportionality is obviously is way in our favor. Should we take them out? Yes. Should we do it with a s*** load of high explosives dropped from high above? Sure, if the “boots” on the ground can’t take care of it.
Don’t forget, when “Air power contains the seeds of our own destruction”, air power also contains the seeds of our enemy’s destruction. To hell with the enemy, political objectives should remain separate from military objectives.
Last but not least, how would we fare if not for the majority of the “air power” in theater (airlift). Fighters, UAV, and close air support aircraft in the Air Force is just a fraction of the daily operations that take place. Strategic and tactical airlift contribute far more to the war effort on a daily basis, though not as glamorous as those in the “thin-skinned prima-donnas in the arrested-development frat-boy playland”.Generals should not make general statements about things which they are not qualified to make. Air Power is more than dropping iron on target. He probably authorized the strike to begin with. He should use his chain of command more often, rather than the media to express his views. Just about tired of this guy already.
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E. R. J. Says:
October 15th, 2009 at 1:04 pmI’m still in the Air Force…and I think he’s right!!
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Is this guy "STUPID"? Says:
October 15th, 2009 at 1:54 pmWTF people???
This is two strikes for this senator want to be.
Who is he working for? The taliban?
I agree with “what?” this is yet another example of this man’s inability to lead and ecellent ability to place blame on others vs. sholdering his own load and being a true “General”…
FIRE HIM NOW!!!!!!!!! -
Thoughtful Says:
October 15th, 2009 at 2:23 pm“What?” says:
“Don’t forget, when ‘Air power contains the seeds of our own destruction’, air power also contains the seeds of our enemy’s destruction. To hell with the enemy, political objectives should remain separate from military objectives.”
Since when are military objectives separate from political objectives? That is, unless one does not believe in the United States Constitutional sanctity of civilian control of the military.
What does one swear to uphold and defend when raising one’s right hand? Is it a service or branch, or a calling and duty?
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TacAirlifter Says:
October 15th, 2009 at 3:04 pmFor all you AF bashers out there, when you need it bombed right now, anywhere in the world, who do you think they call? Now stick it…. overheard F-15Es and B-1Bs are blowing the hell out of the Taliban, with JTACs imbeeded in Army/Marine units below. WISE UP!
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AF-EA Says:
October 15th, 2009 at 7:15 pmThoughtful,
Military objectives and Political objectives are tied together but one man’s PERSONAL political ambitions should not be in the mix. Also a leader should never criticize a branch of the team in that manner unless we were dropping bombs like rain for no reason and I know that was not the case.
There are instances where mistakes have occurred but we have strict policies and we strive to abide by them.The AF uses proportionality but sometimes mission requirements, necessity and time constraints out way proportionality. It’s not always black or white so for him to criticize air power for this instance is uncalled for.
I think our air superiority is what puts our forces above the rest of the world’s and I’ve spoken to other branches that share my view.
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James Armstrong Says:
October 16th, 2009 at 2:20 amLet see what was that phrase, ” leaders “lost confidence in his ability to command.” Oh yeah, that’s it!
As stated previous by others, we, AF types put the iron where we are told via JTAC who I believe, now don’t stop me now General, are Army and Marine on scene commanders?
So talk about taking the number 2 pencil and poking oneself in the eye!
PS No VA disability for stupidity
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Old Ranger Says:
October 16th, 2009 at 10:02 amGood grief, what a bunch of illiterate whiners!
HE WAS TALKING TO “SENIOR COALITION COMMANDERS” about being smart in their use of air stirkes. Period.
He understands the fallacy of the “we had to burn down the village to save it” mindset.
NO WHERE in that comment do I see him criticizing the people DELIVERING the air power – it’s about when commanders decide to use it, and how much.
Interesting, too, that the Zoomies of the Air Force automatically assume it’s about them – conveniently forgetting that other services provide air power as well.
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MT Says:
October 16th, 2009 at 2:25 pmThis guy knows NOTHING about air power and how to use it. THAT is, in part, why we will lose this war if we don’t fire him and change the strategy now.
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Comm Guy Says:
October 16th, 2009 at 4:05 pmThis is for #5…unless you’ve worked for the man, you surely have no place in questioning his leadership. Trust me when I say he tells it like it is and doesn’t sugarcoat anything like some of our AF leadership.
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STODR Says:
October 16th, 2009 at 4:58 pmI have to agree with Old Ranger here. I think he was talking to the people who authorize the strikes, you don’t always have to kill a bug with a hammer.
20 year A-10 pilot
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RickEnRota Says:
October 16th, 2009 at 4:59 pmOld Ranger is right on the money…can I get an “amen”?
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ELP Says:
October 17th, 2009 at 6:37 pm“seeds of our destruction” is wasting billions per month trying to take democracy to a tribal culture. The Afghanistan missions only good is to provide a live fire range and training for military forces. We don’t have the money for endless nation building. Meanwhile the only seeds is our military force structure going to seed by over-focusing on COIN and nation building. While it is important to keep a stable Pakistan next door (remember they have nukes), OEF isn’t going to do it. It only makes us weaker. Obviously we aren’t too concerned about a nuke capable Pakistan as we just gave them more potential nuke delivery platforms; F-16s (idiot loop* anyone?) purchased with U.S. tax dollar anit-terror funding. But yeah lets press forward by mis-spending huge amounts of DOD money on useless nation building.
*=Idiot loop is a simple low-tech nuke delivery method used by fighter aircraft.
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James Says:
October 18th, 2009 at 10:41 amHe is just another General with a motive for something after the military. I hope Obama puts him in his place and replaces him with someone more capable to lead. When you have the Army leading something you automatically do not have your smartest people out there.
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Hacksaw Says:
October 19th, 2009 at 3:31 pmThis is no dis; and not really news. Use the right tool for the right job…simple as that! AF (ret) FIDO
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Dumbfounded Says:
October 20th, 2009 at 7:03 amI find it both confusing and infuriating, that here we are arguing back in forth like children who got their little feelings hurt, all the while our brothers and sisters in arms are getting senselessly schwacked by the most cowardly enemy in history. While our nations president and his cabinet debate whether or not to send re-enforcements to a spread thin force constantly under attack; both from brainwashed terrorist and coincidently, brainwashed US Media. While our comrads fall right now, our commander in chief flys to europe to campaign for the Olympic games to be held in his home town, 7 years from now. While our fellow Soldiers, Marines, Sailors, and Airmen, simitaneously deal with the death of comrads and being thousands of miles from their homes and families; They are charged by our leaders with a unclear mission. They have to try to make sense of why? When an enemy sticks a rifle out a window, and takes the life of the man or woman standing next to them; they cant return fire. Let alone call in an ungodly firestorm on the bastard. Our leaders preach “hearts and minds” and give no strategy to accomplish this objective. We have a commander who says if we dont get more troops, we will loose this war; yet the president who cares more for his political status and reputation, turns to the US Congress to spend months disscussing it. All the while, undermanned FOB’s are relentlessly attacked and Americans are killed. Not to mention back home, the Dollar is plumeting, unemployment rates are higher than they have been in 20yrs, the Nation’s Economy still lies in shambles, on the brink of recession. So why are even spending breathe fighting over the few words, that may or may not have been directed as an insult. Seriously? We arent fighting a war here, we are fighting each other. and unless we all grow up, leave our egos back home, and strive to be “one team, one fight” to the best of our abilities, we WILL loose this war. We have to do our best to get along with eachother, NO MATTER WHAT. We are all we’ve got over here, and we’ve got to look out for eachother. Keep it together troops.
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That Guy Says:
October 20th, 2009 at 7:13 amGlass Parking Lots!!
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F.M. Ashmore Says:
October 20th, 2009 at 7:25 amAs a 20-year Air Force pilot, I don’t see the general’s remark as a criticism. He’s exactly right. Anybody with an ounce of doctrinal knowledge understands that to win and secure and objective, you must have boots on the ground. Sure, we could have bombed North Vietnam into the stone age, but as soon as we stopped, without occupation forces, it would have reconstituted.
That’s all General McChrystal said. We can’t depend on air power alone to win this war. Dropping a 500-pound bomb on one enemy combatant is a waste of valuable and limited resources—a bomb, and airplane, and a pilot. -
Papa Ray Says:
November 19th, 2009 at 11:00 pmThe General is doing his best in a terrible situation. On one side he has Obama and his backers who want out of war period. Then he has the middle who want the war either won or to get our troops out and some on the right who says Afghanistan ain’t worth saving and to either bomb it into oblivion or leave.
Then the rest of us who don’t really know what to believe or do but want to rely on our Military to recommend what to do and then get the backing and assets to do it.The General knows that you don’t make allies from people that just had their family killed by the invaders (that’s us and the rest of the International NATO forces). He knows that you have to make it more profitable for the population to win them over. He knows that they have to believe that we are not only stronger than the Taliban but that we value their lives more than the Taliban does.
That makes a difficult job almost impossible.
So his statement (aimed at the assembly where he was speaking) is not only correct but is something that will have to be enforced. Unfortunately, it is also a ROE that is going to increase the casualties on the ground. Our Casualties.
Such is modern warfare, run by, financed by civilians.
Papa Ray
Central Texas
ol’ once was a grunt. -
Papa Ray Says:
November 19th, 2009 at 11:07 pmOH…forgot to mention, I am the grampa of an Airman, A Sailor and have a 13y/o grandson that is going to be a Marine. I served in Nam, while they all have a great grampa that served in WWII in the Navy.
Just thought I would mention those bones.
Papa Ray