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This thesis examines whether traditional air power theory complements counterinsurgency air power theory in kinetic counterinsurgency operations. The reason being that there is some discrepancy in the theories of how air power can be used in counterinsurgency. Winning a revolutionary war requires a graduated spectrum of violence; whereas, traditionally air power is characterized as only using the kinetic, hard power, end of that spectrum.

The purpose is to test Robert Pape’s air power theory of military coercion by denial, motivated by the theory’s agreement with current research of air power in counterinsurgency. This thesis is a comparative case study examining two, similar and successful counterinsurgency operations, Operation Anaconda and Operation Medusa.

Findings show that denial is quite prominent when direct support of ground forces occurs; whereas operational and strategic interdiction indicate low or no occurrence. This study strengthens the theory’s applicatory power in a counterinsurgency context, and suggests it can complement current research on counterinsurgency air power in kinetic usage.