The Quest for Relevant Air Power

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Staff College. Furthermore, a Dutch Air Force officer is sent to the
Führungsakademie and to the JSCSC in the UK every four years. 158
Dissemination of Air Power Thought
Though the RNLAF had already organised air power symposia
during the days of the Cold War, it was particularly in the aftermath
of major air operations over Bosnia that the RNLAF began
to organise air power symposia. 159 Hence, they can be understood
as a means to come to terms with the new security environment
and air power’s role in deployed operations.
Symposia and colloquia were specifically designed to benefit
doctrine development not only within the RNLAF but also beyond
by discussing the challenges of joint operations. 160 Particularly
interesting are a symposium organised by the NDC in April
1996 and a colloquium organised by the DAG in November 1997.
Both events lasted an entire week, during which the RNLAF
hosted some of the most esteemed air power practitioners and
theorists of the Western world. Besides Dutch speakers, foreign
speakers included Mason (RAF); Drew (SAASS); David Deptula
(USAF); Robert Pape (US); Clodfelter (USAF); Robert Owen
(USAF), the editor of the final report of the Air University Balkans
Air Campaign Study; and Martin van Creveld (Israel). 161 These
events provided the RNLAF with an opportunity to enrich its
doctrinal thought with some of the most sophisticated and latest
thinking on air power. They largely coincided with the publication
of the RNLAF’s first air power doctrine. Thereafter, it was predominantly
major air campaigns or military operations that provided
additional impetus for colloquia or symposia.
In the aftermath of Allied Force, the topic of coercion was especially
emphasised to reflect NATO’s air campaign. From 6 to 8
June 2000, for instance, the NDC organised a three-day colloquium.
Besides Dutch speakers, scholars from the United States
such as Benjamin Lambeth, Karl Mueller, and Hammond were invited.
162 In 2003 the 50th anniversary of the RNLAF and the role
of air power in Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom
provided the opportunity for a high-level air power symposium.
Areas addressed included the RNLAF’s history and significance,
the military transformation process, and effects-based operations.
Amongst the international guests was Gen Tommy Franks. 163 In