Carl Von Clausewitz's Exploration Of Operation Desert Storm

“War is thus an act of force to compel our enemy to do our will.” The United States issued an ultimatum to Saddam Hussein: leave Kuwait by 15 January1991 or face a full attack by the multinational force. This is what war is about. Carl von Clausewitz writings on the theory of war, especially his developed paradoxical trinity, center of gravity (COG), and concept of friction shaped military leaders in their preparation, planning and conduct of warfare in operation Desert Storm in 1991. This US-led coalition war resulted in one of the most successful fought operation in the end of the twentieth century in order to liberate Kuwait. Saddam Hussein had “to square off against the best-trained, best-equiped, and best-led U.S. Army in history. The
Clausewitz developed his famous paradoxical trinity. It consists of (1) the people (primordial violence, the mobilization and commitment of the people); (2) the armed forces, which provide the creative management of risk, chance and probability or even luck. They are responsible for the planning and execution of military operations); and (3) the government, which determines the rational policies and objectives of war. Clausewitz was certain that victory could be secured only if the proper equilibrium was achieved among these three dimensions. Ultimately, all three entities must be evaluated and properly targeted before and during the conduct of war. Furthermore, Clausewitz argued, that war is not a science, it is in fact an art where several principles apply. One of those principles or concept is the center of gravity, which is “the hub of all power and movement, on which everything depends. That is the point against which all our energies should be directed.” Another Clausewitzian concept is friction that refers to uncertainties, accidents, the unforeseen, the weather and errors. They have effects on the adversaries decisions, morale and action. “Friction … is the force that makes the apparently easy so difficult.” Having explained the Clausewitz´ trinity, center of gravity and frictions, let’s turn to operation Desert Storm and provide evidence for Clausewitz´ impact on the conduct of
In December 1990, the United States supported its ally Saudi Arabia with over 500,000 American troops in an operation called Desert Shield. The United States with its allies under a UN mandate planned for an operation to drive Iraqi forces out of Kuwait: Operation Desert Storm. General Schwarzkopf as CENTCOM and was in charge of the operational planning. Preceding the ground offensive, massive coalition air assaults were conducted with several centers of gravity. The air assault started on 17 January 1990 and lasted for four weeks. Strategic targets, such as communication infrastructure, command and control facilities, power plants military and civilian leadership infrastructure were number one priority targets. Those selected targets had several impacts according to the trinity. Firstly, the destruction of Presidential palace and the Baath party headquarter hampered the Iraqi government to make decision and spread them to their population and military forces. Secondly, the civilian population should be convinced to turn against its governing regime. Thirdly, having decapitated the Iraqi military leadership at the National Air Defense center, friction in form of uncertainty, fear and low morale would spread among the tactical and operational military leaders. Without guidance from their superiors, forces in the field would surrender more likely. Additionally, the