In These New Times

It can’t be stressed too much that, unable to win hearts and minds in Iraq, or indeed, anywhere, the projection of Anglo-American power consists, in the last analysis, of bombing and nothing but bombing. So its not just a question of “Troops out of Iraq” but “Stop the Bombing of Iraq”, a campaign of destruction and genocide which has been going on for not far short of 20 years.

David Axe

Wired.com

31st July, 2008

The U.S. Air Force’s Iraq boss has drawn up plans to boost air power even as ground troops withdraw from the country, according to The New York Times:

The commander, Lt. Gen. Gary North, described a future approach that would rely on jet fighters and bombers to help ensure the safety of American troops who remain behind to train Iraqis as the number of allied ground combat troops decreased.

It’s not a new strategy. As the British gradually reduce their ground forces in southern Iraq, their aviation forces in the region have held the line.

But there’s a downside to the air-power approach. A recent “aviation surge” in Afghanistan has caused a spike in civilian casualties and sparked a major row between Kabul and Washington. Might a similar surge in Iraq do the same?