Centre of GravityGaddafi’s ability to crush dissent and control the population.

1 2 3 4

Critical CapabilitiesCombat Power Traditional Loyalties Finance Propaganda

Critical Requirements Air Power Land Forces Weapons/

Consumable munitions

Moral authority to employ force

Tribal supporters Chain of

Command Reputation Ability to portray

the opposition as a threat to traditional values

Oil revenue Offshore funds International

funding

Control of domestic media

Information operations/ dissemination of information

Religious leaders

Critical Vulnerabilities NATO/UN

forces have considerable capability overmatch to his Air Force, which is vulnerable both to destruction on the ground and interdiction in the air.

Land Forces can be functionally dislocated from the rebel elements by forcing engagement with a coalition land force – not necessarily of sufficient mass to conquer Libya, but sufficient to draw Gaddafi’s land forces away from the popular revolt.

Weapons/Consumable munitions can be targeted

Military and political embarrassment of Gaddafi will erode the loyalty of his tribal supporters.

Gaddafi’s Chain of Command can be targeted by isolating his command structure through targeted destruction of his communications.

His reputation as the tribal “strong man” is vulnerable to attack both physically through decisive military defeats, and politically by international refusal to acknowledge his legitimacy.

His ability to portray the opposition as a threat to traditional values can be

Isolation of Gaddafi’s finances has already begun, through the quarantining of offshore funds etc.

This will need to be expanded and targeted to deny him funds to prosecute his continued defiance.

Control of domestic media can be targeted both physically and through the EM spectrum. Destruction of broadcast facilities would constitute a short-term solution, but would deny friendly elements the ability to use those in the future. Denial through the disruption of bandwidth is a better long-term solution.

His ability to influence the Information Operations battle can be targeted through a comprehensive counter-IO plan, using traditional media as well as social media to tie Gaddafi to the Lockerbie bombing and support for various terrorist agencies etc to undermine his recurrent theme of branding the protesters as

through embargoes as well as direct strikes against munitions storage facilities.

Moral authority to employ force can be targeted through Information Operations – see column 4.

undermined by tying him to international terrorism – see column 4.

terrorists. In addition, a positive campaign to tie the protesters to a democratic future for Libya will undermine his supporters and deny him legitimacy.

Religious leaders can be targeted by isolating the political struggle from religious orthodoxy. IO campaigns need to differentiate between political and religious identity.