Blinding the eyes of the Corps: foresight at last?.

Abstract

This thesis juxtaposes the enabling attributes of tactical aerial reconnaissance with the myopic force structure policy which resulted in the demise of Marine aerial reconnaissance on the eve of the Persian Gulf War. Commencing with the debut of American photo reconnaissance aircraft in World War I, and continuing through the present, the U.S. tactical aerial reconnaissance capability problematic development cycle of high emphasis during war and gross negligence during peacetime is documented. The the United States Marine Corps, the impact of this trend of dysfunctional command priorities during Desert Shield/Desert Storm contingency operations in Southwest Asia is elucidated and the misnomer of "intelligence failure" is revealed. Based on analysis of these events and the recurring intelligence requirements of combat, this thesis sets forth the requirement for continuous maintenance of a viable tactical aerial reconnaissance capability within the Marine Corps.