1. Identify the key stakeholders in the case scenario.

The stakeholders of Gulf War involved a wide range of parties that can be affected of
Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait in August 1990. Since the society is concerned about the
Iraq’s acquiring of nation’s large oil reserves, canceling a large debt Iraq owed
Kuwait, and expanding Iraqi power in the region. The invasion has a potential threat
to Saudi Arabia; the world’s largest oil producer and exporter, which prompted the
United States and its allies to deter a possible attack. In general, the key
stakeholders are the following who plays in contributing to the formulation of
strategic objectives:
 Iraq
 Kuwait
 United Nations Security Council (UNSC)
 Allied coalition

2. In what ways did each key stakeholder contribute to the formulation of the
strategic objectives?

 Iraq and Kuwait. Iraq complained about Kuwait's behavior, such as not
respecting their quota, and openly threatened to take military action. Iraqi
demand for $10 billion to cover the lost revenues from Rumaila oil field; Kuwait
offered $500 million. The Iraqi response was to immediately order an invasion,
which started on 2 August 1990 with the bombing of Kuwait City.
 The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) passes a resolution denouncing
Iraq's invasion of Kuwait. One of the resolution gave Iraq a withdrawal
deadline until 15 January 1991, and authorized a use of force if Iraq failed to
comply.
 US President George H. W. Bush orders the start of Operation Desert. On 16
January 1991, the air campaign of operation desert storm begins.

3. Who ultimately set the strategic objectives and what were they?

 The United State of America ultimately set the strategic objective by starting
the Operation Desert. To ensure US received economic backing, coalition of
forces opposing Iraq was formed. Although they did not contribute any
forces, Japan and Germany made financial contributions. The Allied coalition
was made up of 39 countries: Afghanistan, Argentina, Australia, Bahrain,
Bangladesh, Belgium, Canada, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Egypt, France,
Germany, Greece, Honduras, Hungary, Italy, Kuwait, Morocco, the
Netherlands, New Zealand, Niger, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal,
Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, South Korea, Spain,
Sweden, Syria, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and
the United States.
 The strategic objectives of the Gulf War articulated by President Bush were
to: free the western hostages held by Iraq; defend Saudi Arabia; liberate
 Kuwait; and destroy weapons of mass destruction so as to increase the
stability of the region.

4. What were the operational objectives?

General Schwarzkopf, the theater commander, used the strategic objectives to focus
on the military objective to destroy the Iraqi military force. When it became
apparent that political and economic sanctions would not produce a timely
resolution of the conflict, coalition leadership shifted military objectives to eject Iraqi
troops from Kuwait using military operations and to secure Kuwait to permit
restoration of the legitimate government. The operational objectives of the coalition
forces shifted to those that supported an offensive strategy which demanded a swift,
decisive military outcome: destruction of the Iraqi air force and command of the
theater airspace: destruction of Iraqi nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons
capability including both production and storage; destruction of the Iraqi ballistic
missile capability; isolation of the Kuwaiti theater of operations to cut off logistical
support: destruction of the Iraqi theater command and control system: and
destruction of the Republican Guard Force Corps deployed in the theater.

5. Who was responsible for formulating the operational part of the strategy?
6. Discuss the extent to which the operational objectives were congruent with the
strategic objectives.
7. Describe the resources inputs that were employed in the implementation of the
strategy.
8. Which of Mintzberg’s five Ps best describes the strategy followed by the allies in
the Gulf War? Justify your answer.
9. Discuss the extent to which the strategic objectives were successfully
accomplished in Operation Desert Storm.