The Futility of Air Strikes in the War on Terror
Bombings aren't as targeted (or as effective) as the American government would have you believe.
By Vijay Prashad
/ AlterNet
August 10, 2016 | http://www.alternet.org/world/ bombs-not-effective-war-terror
The global war on terror – or whatever it is called
nowadays – is not going well. From Afghanistan to Libya, the adversaries
of the West seem undaunted by Western bombardment. The Taliban advances
towards Lashkar Gar in Helmand Province (Afghanistan), while groups
such as the Shura Council of Benghazi Revolutionaries and even ISIS hold
their ground in central and eastern Libya.
The
advantage of the West and its allies (Saudi Arabia and Israel) is its
dominance of the skies. None of the groups – neither the Taliban nor
ISIS – has an air force or serious ground-to-air capacity. They are at
the mercy of the high-altitude bombers – including drones – that can fly
over their terrain and hit them at will. But this aerial advantage has \
a limited ability. It can destroy identifiable targets – what its
people on the ground or its eyes in the sky can see. This is possible.
What is less possible is to obliterate – without major civilian
casualties – the guerrilla fighters on the ground. They do not stand in
formation, waiting for annihilation from above. These fighters move in
small groups, keep close to natural cover and flitter in and out of
civilian areas. To take them from the air is difficult.http://www.alternet.org/world/bombs-not-effective-war-terror
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