As much as I want this thread to die the slow painful death it deserves, I've seen this sentiment posted twice from two people in the last week. The Air Force does not exist as a support function. It exists to execute national policy. In our present COIN operation, that involves answering the JFLCC's call to support ground operations. But please don't think that all airpower exists to support all ground pounders. Reference Allied Force, Eldorado Canyon, Rolling Thunder, Linebacker I, Linebacker II, etc. None of which involved Joe.