Air University (AU) > AUPress > Articles - Category Papers

Aug. 1, 2007
The Influence of Politics, Technology, and Asia on the Future of US Missile Defense

This work presents an overview of ballistic missile defense (BMD) initiatives and their attendant technologies with a careful analysis of their existing capabilities and potentialities to make recommendations as to the BMD initiatives that are most likely to provide realistic expectations of useful
July 1, 2007
Flying and Fighting in Cyberspace

On 5 December 2005, the Air Force expanded its mission to include a new domain of war fighting: “to fly and fight in Air, Space, and Cyberspace.” When the Air Force claimed cyberspace as part of its mission, it not only acknowledged the changing terrain of conflict and a shift in tactics
March 1, 2007
The Moral and Ethical Implications of Precision-Guided Munitions

This work explores the relationship between one of the most significant military developments to emerge in the past century, namely, aerial precision-guided munitions and their relationship with the just-war tradition. The aim of this study is to encourage moral and ethical reflection by
Feb. 1, 2007
The Twelfth US Air Force

This paper analyzes the participation of the US Twelfth Air Force in the Mediterranean theater of operation from 1943 to 1944 and also studies the coalition and joint operations required in the air campaign.[MAJ Matthew G. St. Clair, USMC / 2007 / 88 pages / ISBN: --- / AU Press Code: T-43]
Dec. 1, 2006
Black Hats and White Hats

This paper provides a unique parallel review of the histories of Air Force special operations and combat search and rescue forces. With a thorough understanding of their organizational culture and history, the author examines the 1983-89 merger of these two communities under the banner of the
Nov. 1, 2006
Airpower, Afghanistan, and the Future of Warfare: An Alternative View

This work attempts to demonstrate that a profound shift in airpower doctrine has occurred since Desert Storm with the increasing perfection of precision guided munitions. Wills argues that the air component can now be considered supported by the ground component in combat. The consequence of this
Nov. 1, 2006
Crony Attack

Major Tolbert details how a nation can use crony attack to disrupt, if not destroy, “key elite supporters of an enemy leader to effect policy change in the attacker’s favor.” He defines crony attack, discusses its methodology, and outlines ways in which its effectiveness can be
Sept. 1, 2006
Future of NATO-Russian Relations or How to Dance with a Bear and Not Get Mauled

Since the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the Warsaw Pact, NATO has enlarged its membership twice with countries formerly under Soviet influence and control and, as of this writing, is preparing to begin the process for a third expansion. Russia has watched the borders of NATO creep ever closer
Aug. 1, 2006
Intelligence Reform

On 22 July 2004 the 9/11 Commission released its report on the events surrounding the attacks of 11 September 2001. The 9/11 Report renewed calls for reform of the intelligence community (IC), continuing a long series of intelligence reform efforts that began shortly after the National Security Act
July 1, 2006
Offensive Use of Chemical Technologies by US Special Operations Forces in the Global War on Terrorism

Counterterrorist operations in the twenty-first century will continue to rely on the combination of highly trained, exceptionally skilled special operations forces and the use of unconventional methods of warfare. Today, counterterrorist operators face a modern terrorist who neither follows