Strategic bombing in the post Cold War era was defined by American advances in and use of smart munitions. Beginning in the First Gulf War, and then more markedly in the Kosovo War and the initial phases of the 2003 Invasion of Iraq, strategic bombing campaigns were notable for the heavy use of precision weaponry by the countries that possessed them. Although bombing campaigns were still strategic in their aims, the widespread carpet bombing tactics of World War II had mostly disappeared. This led to significantly fewer civilian casualties associated with previous conflicts, though it did not a bring about a complete end to civilian death or collateral damage.

Strategic bombing took on a more personal role, as strikes against individual leaders were considered, and approved, in the case of Saddam Hussein, or disapproved, in the case of Slobodan Milošević. The idea of destroying, or not destroying, a high-value personal target was not new. In World War II, the United States chose to avoid using nuclear bombs on cities where the Japanese emperor was known reside. There were even rumors during the Kosovo War strikes against one of Milošević's residences were held back due to the presence of an impressionist painting at the location.^{[citation needed]} Cruise missiles and ballistic missiles (such as the Scud) have replaced strategic bombers to an extent (as they had begun to with the introduction of the V-2).

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Technological advances

With the advent of precision-guided munitions, many feel that strategic bombing has become a viable military strategy. Exactly how precise precision munitions are is still open to question. However, others predict that 21st century warfare will more often be asymmetrical, and therefore viable strategic bombing options may not exist.

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Strategic bombing events

Among the controversial instances of strategic bombing (and it should be noted that there is still significant controversy over whether all of these events even constitute strategic bombing, as opposed to other forms, such as terror bombing) are:

• Strategic bombing of "uncivilized tribes" during the British mandate of Iraq
• Spanish Civil War
  • The Bombing of Guernica: the first aerial bombardment in history in which a civilian population was attacked with the apparent intent of producing total destruction.
• World War II
  • The Japanese bombing of Wuhan
  • The Japanese bombing of Chongqing
  • The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor
  • The German bombing of Warsaw
  • The German bombing of Rotterdam
  • German attacks on the UK during The Blitz and afterwards, through the V-1 and V-2 attacks.
  • The German bombing of Belgrade
  • The German bombing of Moscow.
  • Allied bombing of Berlin
  • Allied bombing of Dresden
  • Allied bombing of Hamburg
  • Allied bombing of Milan.
  • United States bombing of Tokyo
  • United States bombing of Tokyo
  • United States bombing of Kobe
  • United States atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
• Vietnam war
  • United States bombing of the Ho Chi Minh Trail
  • United States bombing of Hanoi
  • United States bombing of Cambodia
• Allied bombing of Iraq during the first Gulf War
  • Strategic bombing of civilian targets in Iraq
• Yugoslav Wars (1991-1999)
  • NATO bombing of Republika Srpska (1995) (Operation Deliberate Force)
  • Kosovo War (1999)
    • NATO bombing of industry and other civilian infrastructure in Serbia. Despite intensive work in selecting targets, many errors (of fact and of judgment) were made, including the bombing of the Chinese embassy in Belgrade and the deliberate bombing of the main TV centre in Belgrade.
• The 2003 invasion of Iraq
  • Precision laser and GPS guided bombs were used extensively, not only to damage and destroy Saddam Hussein's army but also to damage infrastructure such as communications, power and various government buildings. The campaign moved into the asymmetric warfare once strategic targets no longer existed or were not viable for targeting.

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Pioneers of strategic bombing

• Henry H. "Hap" Arnold, USAF
• Giulio Douhet, Regia Aeronautica (Italy)
• Arthur "Bomber" Harris, RAF
• Curtis LeMay, USAF
• Billy Mitchell, USAAC
• Carl Spaatz, USAF
• Hugh Trenchard, RAF

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See also

• Air raid shelter
• Air raid siren
• Air raid precautions
• Airstrike
• Aerial bombing
• Aerial bombing of cities
• Area bombardment
• Carpet bombing
• Civilian deaths by aerial bombing
• Firebombing
• Strategic Bombing Survey
• Tactical bombing
• Terror bombing

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References

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Further reading

• Spaight. James M. "Bombing Vindicated" G. Bles, 1944. ASIN: B0007IVW7K (Spaight was Principal Assistant Secretary of the Air Ministry) (U.K)

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