To Bomb or Not to Bomb: Area Bombing in the Age of Precision Munitions, (Paperback)

Precision munitions have become the panacea of weapon employment in the US Air Force. Employed on long-range bombers, we can now strike multiple targets with one aircraft instead of using multiple aircraft to strike one target. Because of this, the US Air Force is shying away from a proven bombing tactic. The union of the physical destruction and the psychological effects of area bombing produces immense results on the battlefield. These results show that area bombing is still a viable tactic in current and future conflicts.By studying the battle for Khe Sanh in the Vietnam War, and bombing operations in Operations Desert Storm, Enduring Freedom, and Iraqi Freedom, and analyzing the role of law in combat, American strategists can gain valuable insights into the circumstances that make area bombing effective, efficient, and acceptable in this day and age. Our over reliance on precision weapons might be a pitfall in current and future conflicts.