This monograph examines the employment of a European based U.S. heavy division in a contingency in the Middle East. Applicable theory is described and developed against the historical lens of armored campaigns in desert regions and then is used to develop the research paper's product: employment considerations. The strategic setting of the Middle East demands sustained attention from the United States. We can expect continued trouble and violence resulting from the diverse religious, cultural, economic, and military pressures within the area. We will most likely see United States interests in protecting sovereign nations and encouraging peace in the region. Since the diminished Soviet threat in Europe no longer fixes divisions in position, a heavy division could be available for employment in the adjacent theater, the Middle East. Because European based divisions do not train in a desert setting, the deployment to the Middle East would involve dramatic changes in geography and climate that are useful to analyze because of their impact on operations. The criteria introduced to develop the analysis are the dynamics of combat power: maneuver, firepower, protection and leadership. These are examined from theoretical and historical frames of reference that include the German World War II North African campaign, Arab-Israeli wars, and the recent Iran-Iraq War. From this analysis several conclusions emerge. These include the need to concentrate against an enemy flank, the usefulness of firepower to destroy enemy will, the need to hide the force, and the severe demands on leadership imposed by the harsh environment.

ADA 243542 Approved for public release; Distribution is unlimited. The opinions and conclusions expressed herein are those of the student-authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College or any other governmental agency. (References to these studies should include the foregoing statement.)