During the height of the Afghanistan anti terror ops during 01-02, if guys on the ground requested air 'presence' to deter the reagheads from coming too close, we'd often task a supersonic flypast by any suitable CAS asset. By far the most effective was the B-1B whose sonic booms, noise and size would cause the local populace to leg it back home ASAP. Quite a few rapidly deteriorating situations were stabilised like that, removing the need to employ ordanance, enabling exfil of friendlie without dramas and therefore saving lives on both sides.
Regards,
M2