Saddam Hussein: Operational Artist or Madman?

Abstract

Abstract : This paper contends that Saddam Hussein's actions have been and still are guided by a rational operational design that consists of waging a protracted conflict against his own countrymen, against the countries of the Middle East and against the rest of the world in order to fulfill his strategic goal of making himself one of the most powerful men in Arab history. The author proposes that in order to achieve his strategic goal, Saddam established nine operational objectives to maximize or achieve: (1) Personal Power; (2) Personal Legacy; (3) Personal Wealth; (4) Control of Oil; (5) Unite/Control Arab Nations; (6) Control the Persian Gulf; (7) Destroy Israel; (8) Establish Palestine; (9) Remove Western Influence. This paper analyzes the ends, ways, means, and risks of pursuing those objectives and cites the words and deeds of Saddam Hussein to demonstrate their validity. Then this paper examines components of operational art incorporated by Iraq during the invasion of Kuwait and during Operation DS/DS to prove Iraq's actions fit into a rational operational design. Finally, the author suggests that if our goal is to keep Saddam in power, yet weak, than a military response should not be chosen, but if the goal is to remove Saddam Hussein from power or gain his compliance to UN demands, then the coalition must strike militarily at his strategy. This will result in Saddam's overthrow or moderation.