In his March 3 Commentary column, "Lesson that still
applies," Gordon R. Sullivan minimizes the compelling
role of coalition air power in the Gulf war. As a senior military
statesman, I feel I have an obligation to correct the record.
Contrary to the article’s assertions, the Gulf war gives us
evidence that revolution in military affairs is possible. Before
the air campaign, military planners estimated that dislodging
Iraqi forces from Kuwait would create up to 20,000 U.S. casualties.
The actual total was 613. The remarkable difference in numbers and
what happened was no accident.
Instead of a horrific loss not seen since Vietnam, what
Americans saw on television was a Desert Storm. Coalition air
power — led by the Air Force using precision-strike, stealth and
information technology — redefined the concept of attack. The
enemy was hit everywhere at once, making it virtually impossible
for him to adjust, adapt or mount a counteroffensive. Nearly half
of Iraqi armor was destroyed, and 50 to 75 percent of Iraqi troops
in the first two echelons were either casualties or deserters. At
one point, more than 80,000 Iraqi soldiers surrendered in just four
days.
The Iraqi 3rd Corps commander, when asked why he had given up,
responded, "It was the airplanes." It was a simple answer
and a telling fact.
The obvious effectiveness of air power in the Gulf war does not
lessen the important contributions made by the Army or the other
services. Without question, the swiftness of victory was the result
of the synergy of combat power of all the services and coalition
warfare.
Fortunately, theater commanders who are responsible for
implementing the battle plan and defeating the enemy at the least
cost of life are well-schooled in warfare. One such man, Army Gen.
H. Norman Schwarzkopf, saw the potential of aerospace power as the
Gulf war developed and took advantage of it. On the battlefield,
what is best for the nation always must come first. There is no
room for internal conflicts.
As the top-down defense review and new approaches to military
security ordered by President Bush take place, I would hope that
service parochialism can be kept out of the dialogue. Certainly,
no one in uniform is arguing that air power or sea power or ground
forces can go it alone.
We must be professionally responsible to the public as we make
the best use of the resources available to protect the nation, our
friends and allies. The defense review under way requires
innovative thinking, a true spirit of jointness and an accurate
assessment of history.
John A. Shaud, Executive director, Air Force Association,
Arlington
Editor's Note: The column referred to appeared in the
Current News Supplement, March 5, 2001.
