Coercive Airpower Theory in Operation Desert Storm

After a brief introduction of coercive airpower theories, this paper considered these coercive strategies of punishment, risk, denial and decapitation and their effect on coercing Saddam Hussein in Operation Desert Storm. In the six months prior to air campaign, two initial plans emerged in the preparation for Operation Desert Storm. One plan reflected a decapitation strategy and the other resembled risk strategy, but the actual execution of the air campaign utilized both decapitation and denial strategies. This paper assessed the application and effectiveness of these coercive strategies.