Centers of Gravity and Critical Vulnerabilities

Book excerpt: Dr. Joe Strange, Prof. of Military Strategy at the U.S. Marine Corps University, has written this monograph on centers of gravity in an attempt to clarify one of the most fundamental & frequently misunderstood concepts of campaign planning. He contends that doctrine should retain the current concept of critical vulnerabilities, but should return to the original Clausewitzian concept of centers of gravity. His construct linking Centers of Gravity, Critical Capabilities, Critical Requirements & Critical Vulnerabilities (i.e. vulnerable Critical Requirements) provides Service & Joint Planners a logical & useful aid in designing plans to protect friendly sources of power while facilitating the defeat of the enemy's sources of strength.