Two Superpowers in Afghanistan: A Comparative Analysis of Tactics
This ten-page undergraduate paper compares and contrasts the Soviet and American military operations in Afghanistan. The author notes that the major difference between the operations of Soviet and American forces in terms of small combat unit tactics was the ability of American units to communicate directly with their air power assets in real time. This proved to be a decisive advantage for the Americans in 2001, for special forces units could identify an enemy position, call in immediate air support, use a laser-designator to pinpoint the target, or provide the coordinates for a satellite-guided JDAM strike to destroy enemy positions.
