Sorry to interrupt any USAF bashing by people who have NO freaking idea what they are talking about, but here’s my two cents.
First off, basically the fighters ARE controlled by the Army commanders in Iraq at least, where I just came from flying lots of CAS missions in F16s. Its called “commanders intent” and that is relayed through J-TACS who are internally attached to US Army units. What this all means is we get tasked by ground pounders, we show up, we find the target, we ask “mother may I” and then a USAF enlisted troop working with the local ground commander (normally a Major or LtCol) lets us kill whatever needs killing. Its called being “cleared hot” and its 100 percent at the request and permission of the Army or Marine commander.
All that being said, this article is just plain stupid. The Air Force does things the Marines/Navy/Army can’t. This guy argues his point poorly and starts off quoting the Lancet, which is only off by 800 or 900 percent on their casualty estimates. Not a good start.
Thanks for saying it.