To those who say that study of early airpower is a waste due to today's great leap in technology, I offer the observation of Michael Longoria from his study a decade ago, "We still derive military lessons and insight from the campaigns of Alexander. Thus, it is a ludicrous proposition to suggest there is nothing to learn from early airpower in war just because technology has gone far beyond the biplane era. Airpower has such a short history that no stone should be left unturned."76 As it did in Iraq eighty years ago, air control today "can offer more than it is currently being asked to deliver. A locally raised, indigenous security force, backed by expeditionary air power, could gradually replace occupying troops The indigenous population may welcome air power's relatively small cultural footprint in preference to being occupied by intrusive foreign 'storm troopers'. In other words, air control offers influence and reassurance without presence.This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.
