The United States is not planning to leave air power capabilities with Afghan forces following the drawdown that will end in 2014, a move that may jeopardize efforts on the ground, according to USA Today.
Aircraft have been a key component to the war in Afghanistan, providing close air support during firefights and targeting suspected militants across the country:
Taliban militants are unable to mass forces without risking a devastating attack, forcing militants to fight in small groups and resort to roadside bombs and terrorist strikes on civilian targets.
"U.S firepower is very intimidating to the Taliban," said David Barno, a retired three-star general who commanded coalition forces in Afghanistan and is now a senior adviser at the Center for a New American Security.
The loss of Afghan access to U.S. airpower could be devastating as the Afghan army takes over the majority of the fighting, especially if the Taliban becomes emboldened to commit more daring and long-lasting attacks.
Some speculate the reason for removing air forces from the Afghan army’s arsenal is political, pointing to Afghan President Hamid Karzai’s negative statements regarding American aircraft and the White House’s desire to take as many troops out as possible.
"There is enormous political pressure to get the numbers down," said Fred Kagan, an analyst at the American Enterprise Institute who has advised top commanders in Afghanistan and Iraq. Kagan said Karzai's criticism might also have played a role in the American decision.
Afghanistan has its own small air force that is planned to be fully operational by 2016. The Pentagon in the mean time is beefing up Afghan helicopters with rockets and gatling guns that could provide close air support.
The United States is providing artillery and mortar assets to counterbalance the loss of air support, saying these smaller arms follow more closely with the Afghan way of fighting.
The Pentagon will continue to provide air power for American counterterrorism forces and military advisers who will remain in Afghanistan after 2014.