With a joint air controller, usually a very highly qualified individual that embeds with forces on the ground to make sure the collateral damage of the positive identification goes seamlessly. that is not there any more. the other big question about the air strikes is the americans have two channels where air strikes can be conducted, through the cia and the pentagon. in my experience, the approvals process for any cia strike is very different to the pentagon approved air strikes. dare i say, the cia air strikes have a little bit more leeway, if you like, in terms of the approvals process. tha...