Airpower and the Battle of Khafji

<p>General Norman Schwarzkopf Commander of Coalition forces in the Gulf War summarized the Iraqi offensive at Khafji as about as significant as a mosquito on an elephant. In subsequent years Gulf War analysts have increased their focus on Khafji arguing that this relatively minor engagement had significant strategic implications for the Gulf War as well as future conflicts. In particular airpower advocates increasingly refer to Khafji as the example of airpower's emerging role in halting armored offenses a traditional Army mission. What really happened at Khafji? Did this three-day battle signify a shift toward the pre-eminence of airpower over land warfare? Are those citing Khafji as evidence of airpower's new role in joint warfare reaching too far? Did airpower alone halt a significant Iraqi attack into Saudi Arabia? This study examines the available unclassified evidence to determine the tactical and operational effects of airpower at Khafji. First it first addresses the Iraqis' intentions at Khafji presuming that no accurate judgement of Coalition effectiveness can be determined independently of what the Iraqis were trying to achieve.</p><p>This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore you will see the original copyright references library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world) and other notations in the work.</p><p>This work is in the public domain in the United States of America and possibly other nations. Within the United States you may freely copy and distribute this work as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.</p><p>As a reproduction of a historical artifact this work may contain missing or blurred pages poor pictures errant marks etc. Scholars believe and we concur that this work is important enough to be preserved reproduced and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.</p>