"We think of precision warfare as a modern invention, closely associated with the Gulf War, the Kosovo Campaign and drone technologies. But its origins go back much further in history. This quest to achieve precision in war began in 1917, during the early years of powered flight in the United States. This means that precision has been a significant, if not always achievable, feature of American strategic thought for more than a hundred years."

Prologue: the pursuit of precision -- Genesis (1917-41) -- Evolution (1941-45) -- Continuation (1945-49) -- Side-lining (1949-50) -- Replacement (1950-61) -- Resurrection (1961-91) -- Epilogue: the legacies of precision.