He would have even less reason to perceive the Navy or the Marine Corps as decisive. His accusations of indecisiveness, however, are for airpower and airpower alone, which gives his theory the overtones of an obsession. The Secretary of Defense and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff have recognized airpower as the decisive combat arm of the war. It would be difficult to reach any different conclusion. In a different war under different circumstances, some other combat arm may be demonstrated to greater advantage.
Modern warfare is a combined arms proposition.
It is time, however, to stop wondering if military airpower is effective in combat and whether the US Air Force is worth keeping. The Gulf War answered those questions more than adequately for those who may have harbored an honest doubt.