What Happended at KHAFI: Learning the Wrong Lesson.
Abstract
Many defense experts believe that the era of the ground- gaining foot soldier has ended. They charge that precision weaponry has made riflemen superfluous to modern battle, except perhaps in a special operations mode, providing terminal guidance and battle damage assessments. A favorite case in point involves the fighting around Ras Al Khafji, Saudi Arabia during the 1990-91 Gulf War. The circumstances around Khafji were unique, and we draw a larger lesson at our peril. That enemy, that terrain, and that preponderance of U.S. strength are not guaranteed in future battles. We should view Khafji as the exception, not the rule. Victory through airpower alone remains atypical in modern war.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1998
- Accession Number
- ADA341424
Entities
People
- Daniel P. Bolger
Organizations
- United States Army War College