Quote:
Originally Posted by Count Zero
I never understood why they didn't use F-14s to patrol the Iran-Iraq border during Desert Storm. They could have shut-down* the exodus of Iraqi airplanes to Iran. The Tomcats had the legs, the on-station time, the sensors and the weapons to do the job. I can only assume that either nobody (in a decision making capacity) thought of it, or nobody cared.
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While we're practicing thread necromancy...
Isn't this a false dilemma? Surely there are other options. For example: The Iraqi airplanes became unusable after their exodus anyway. In effect they were neutralized without any need to put Tomcats in harm's way. Who's to say this wasn't understood by US commanders at the time, and that the outcome isn't a reflection of their foresight and wisdom?