The Air Surge
Lance on Feb 02 2008 at 12:35 pm | Filed under: Foreign affairs, Lance's Page, Media, Military Matters
Bob Owens tackles the lazy reductionist thinking behind claims that the recent use of air strikes in Iraq shows a worsening situation, or is at odds with the counterinsurgency strategy we should be pursuing.
I especially like this quote from Human Rights Watch, no friends of the administration:
…the air surge has not caused “an appreciable loss of civilian life.”
“It is very deliberate; they are very careful,” Garlasco said. “The way that the Air Force is fighting there now is in lockstep with the hearts and minds strategy on the ground.”
The increase in air strikes is a result of greater cooperation with Iraqi civilians, it is not damaging the attempt to build such cooperation. They, and our commanders on the ground, see these strikes as a way to avoid casualties, including civilians.
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