The United States needs airpower; but does it need an air force? In Grounded; Robert M. Farley persuasively argues that America should end the independence of the United States Air Force (USAF) and divide its assets and missions between the United States Army and the United States Navy. In the wake of World War I; advocates of the Air Force argued that an organizationally independent air force would render other military branches obsolete. These boosters promised clean; easy wars: airpower would destroy cities beyond the reach of the armies and would sink navies before they could reach the coast. However; as Farley demonstrates; independent air forces failed to deliver on these promises in World War II; the Korean War; the Vietnam War; the first Gulf War; the Kosovo conflict; and the War on Terror. They have also had perverse effects on foreign and security policy; as politicians have been tempted by the vision of devastating airpower to initiate otherwise ill-considered conflicts. The existence of the USAF also produces turf wars with the Navy and the Army; leading to redundant expenditures; nonsensical restrictions on equipment use; and bad tactical decisions. Farley does not challenge the idea that aircraft represent a critical component of America's defenses; nor does he dispute that―especially now; with the introduction of unmanned aerial vehicles―airpower is necessary to modern warfare. Rather; he demonstrates that the efficient and wise use of airpower does not require the USAF as presently constituted. An intriguing scholarly polemic; Grounded employs a wide variety of primary and secondary source materials to build its case that the United States should now correct its 1947 mistake of having created an independent air force.
#669681 in Books University Press of Kentucky 1988-12Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 1.17 x 6.33 x 9.57l; #File Name: 0813116619322 pages
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. He told me a story that seemed pretty harrowing. He was very prideful of his fatherBy Stevo50A few weeks ago my neighbor mentioned that his father served aboard a sub in WWII. He told me a story that seemed pretty harrowing. He was very prideful of his father. I did a little google search of his fathers name and found that he was mentioned several times in this book. I purchased this book and gave it to my neighbor as a tribute to his father. My neighbor had know idea that there was any written account of his fathers service. His father passed away last year. Fair winds sailor RIP.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. You Are ThereBy Mark T. Patterson IIThis is a well written; concrete account of one man's experiences in these events which shaped our present world. The author lets us in on how he felt about things; leaving his wife at the pier; the relative competence of his fellow officers; and at times experiencing first hand cowardice.He lived a life of danger; and lost some good friends. I would recommend this as one of the better of the Veteran Story genre' coming from these conflicts.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Navy people should read without a dought.By Jim .Sr.An eye opening account about our NAVY during Korean War you MUST read and tell all your buddies. Don't need to have been a submarine sailor to enjoy this book. Once you start reading it you won't want to stop. It is thrilling and sad all together.Never knew the real story about faulty equipment that our Navy had to put up with for so long a time.It shows that some big brass in Washington did not heed the real knowledge out in the war zone under difficult situations and the life of many sailors were at risk with faulty torpedos and equipment.
