Quote Originally Posted by Cole View Post
Today we see the successful use of cruise missiles and three B-2 bombers to attack air defenses and airfields. So why do we need a huge USAF when we have these asymmetric capabilities...and no place to launch lots of fighters and tankers from near China outside TBM range?
Let's clarify... we do not have a huge USAF. The USN (227) and Army (236) are both buying more aircraft in FY12 than the USAF is (114)... we have a small USAF that is getting smaller.

Additionally, the B-2s could not have done what they did without the support of a lot of other aircraft- including fighters. B-2s are not invisible - meaning they are vulnerable to fighters.

Finally, Libya's IADS was not modern, nor was it robust... additionally, a lot of folks are trying to buy the same capabilities the US has, meaning they won't be asymmetric for much longer.

In addition, we see Admiral Mullen saying that Qaddafi's overthrow is not the objective. So guess my question is how is this different than the last Northern Watch/Southern Watch that lasted a decade without ousting Hussein or suppressing ground operations?
Northern Watch and Southern Watch DID suppress ground operations... or do you have an example of Kurdistan or the Shiite south being attacked while they were actually in effect? Finally, the goal of ONW and OSW was never to replace Saddam.. it was to protect the Kurds and Shiites from Saddam... it did a pretty good job.

Folks may not have liked ONW and OSW based on the policy, but they accomplished their objectives.

V/R,

Cliff