3-17 COG Example

Narrator: In order to understand the concept of Centers of Gravity, it is important to understand the related concepts of Critical Capability, Critical Requirement, and Critical Vulnerability. Saddam Hussein was a source of mental, moral and physical strength, power and will for Iraq. Critical Capabilities are inherent abilities that enable a center of gravity to function. In Desert Storm, Saddam Hussein's ability to communicate with the populace was a critical capability that allowed his political control to continue. Critical Requirements are those resources or conditions that are necessary for a Critical Capability to operate. In Iraq, the mass media was a critical capability that Saddam needed to communicate with the Iraqi people. Critical Vulnerabilities are Critical Requirements that are vulnerable to attack or exploitation. They are basically a weak point in the center of gravity that can be exposed. Coalition forces in Iraq attacked the mass media infrastructure consisting of microwave, landlines, and television transmitters to weaken Saddam's ability to communicate to the Iraqi people.