From time to time I check out the Air Force almost daily summaries of airpower use. They tend to be rather formulaic. Though, in addition to the numbers of sorties flown and the fuel transfered in flight, there are occasional subtle changes. The locale from which the press releases are issued in one. Most recently, it's been Southwest Asia--to distinguish it from Southeast Asia, no doubt.

June 10 airpower summary: C-17s move outsized loads Posted 6/11/2009

6/11/2009 - SOUTHWEST ASIA (AFNS) -- Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations June 10, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.

Also, perhaps because of concern that some air assets are about to be slashed, the reports have been featuring the "toy" of the day.

There's also been one inconsistency that's consistent--i.e. how the entities against which operations are aimed are named. Sometimes they're "insurgents," "al-qaeda in Iraq," "enemy forces," or, more recently, "anti-Afghan" forces. It's a fluctuating terminology which suggests some confusion about what the U.S. Air Force is actually doing there.

"Shows of force" have become increasingly popular, perhaps because lobbing missiles at individuals armed with rifles has (finally) been adjudged counter-productive.

Afghanistan is always up first, probably because it begins with 'A'.

Near Konduz, Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt IIs conducted strafing runs to take out a group of anti-Afghan forces firing at and mortaring a coalition forward base from surrounding treelines. The aircraft performed a show of force and launched flares upon arrival, but when enemy gunmen continued firing, the aircraft used its 30mm Vulcan cannon to root out the positions. The aircraft marked enemy positions with smoke rounds and confirmed the locations with ground forces prior to opening fire, ensuring the right targets had been identified.

But, sometimes, the old routines must be followed. Note, however, how the action is justified by the enemy weapons: "rocket-propelled grenade launchers and assault rifles."

Another A-10 and a coalition aircraft targeted anti-Afghan forces personnel with strafes and GBU-38s in Tarin Kowt. The jets struck groups of enemy gunmen armed with rocket-propelled grenade launchers and assault rifles after the shooters instigated a firefight.

"Assault rifles" as opposed to what? I suppose there's a presumption that anyone carrying a weapon is an enemy. But, how an air craft can tell a "friendly" from an "enemy" is a puzzlement.

Near Tarin Kowt, a Royal Air Force GR-9 Harrier and a coalition aircraft flew shows of force after a friendly unit came under heavy fire. The arrival of the aircraft caused the enemy to reduce their shooting, allowing the unit to withdraw and regroup.

...

Near Farah, an F-15E flew a show of force over an enemy position, causing the gunmen to flee. The gunmen had engaged an Afghan convoy with rifle fire.

Greater care is being taken.

In Iraq, an Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon flew a show of force to deter an insurgent attack after an Iraqi convoy vehicle was hit with an RPG. The aircraft used the maneuver in lieu of employing deadly force to prevent damage to civilian residences the insurgents were using as cover.

However, the fiction that there's a difference between insurgents and civilians persists, suggesting that when one opposes the agents of government, one's civilian status is lost. It's the same mindset that leads to American anti-war groups being investigated as low-level terrorists.

The following is one paragraph where nothing ever changes but the number. Perhaps someone ought to re-think the use of the word "mission." Also, after six years, the deterrent value of aircraft, even when they're "sychronized," might be re-considered.

Coalition aircraft flew 23 close-air-support missions for Operation Iraqi Freedom. These missions integrated and synchronized with coalition ground forces, protected key infrastructure, provided overwatch for reconstruction activities and helped to deter and disrupt hostile activities.

Perhaps it's because health care is on the national agenda that this got mention, but it's a nice touch. Good news deserves to be noted.

On Jun 9, Air Force HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopters and "Guardian Angel" teams transported 7 patients to coalition field hospitals from locations in Afghanistan. Pararescue Team members aboard located, rescued and began treatment to stabilize patients in the battlefield. The Pave Hawk transported these patients to field hospitals in less time than it takes for a civilian patient to reach emergency care by ambulance in most major cities.