Operation Chaos – Centers of Gravity

By Mike Cline, VP Operations, Venturist, Inc.

Paul Quilland in his The Next Reformation Blog did a very nice job of using the The Essence of Strategy Framework to analyze the strategy of Operation Chaos.  Thanks Paul for a very thoughtful application.  One of the questions that John posed was this:

What are the key internal and external Centers of Gravity that must change for Operation Chaos to succeed?

Paul answered the question this way:

One unique feature of Operation Chaos is that it is always changing. Each state has its own primary/caucus rules, requiring different methods of execution, so as to first, comply with each states election laws, but also, second, to deal with the public differently.  Some participants were told to make much of Operation Chaos when they went to the polls, other participants are told to keep low key.  As an interesting aside, Rush is encouraging participants to lie to exit polls, so as to extend the chaos into the media.

This was a little weak on the Center of Gravity analysis so I thought I’d take a stab at it using John’s Five Ring System Map-a tool to identify Centers of Gravity for any strategic context.  The Five Rings, of which John will discuss more on later, are: Leadership, Processes, Infrastructure, Population and Action Units.  Any system, regardless of context can be broken down using this model and Strategic Thinkers can analyze any system strategically using it.  Once a strategic Future Picture is established, the Five Ring System model is used to identify key Center’s of Gravity requiring change to achieve strategic objectives.

For Operation Chaos, one might suppose that the following are Rush’s key internal Centers of Gravity.  These COGs must perform or behave in a certain way for Operation Chaos to succeed.  We call those results: Desired Effects or in other words: a future state for each Center of Gravity.  Rush must apply resources to both the internal and external COGs to achieve those Desired Effects.

• Leadership: Rush Limbaugh
• Processes: Stack of Stuff process, Sound bite process, Operative Instruction Process
• Infrastructure: EIB Microphone
• Population: Rush Limbaugh listeners
• Action Units: Operation Chaos Operatives

It is the external Centers of Gravity that would probably provide the greatest leverage in Operation Chaos and achieving Desired Effects for these COGs is probably essential to achieving Operation Chaos strategic objectives:

• Leadership: Democratic National Committee, Howard Dean, Hillary Clinton, Barrack Obama, Key Super Delegates, Key National Media, Republican National Committee, John McCain
• Processes: Democratic Primary Processes, Democratic Convention Process, Super Delegate Process, Campaigning Processes
• Infrastructure: Democratic National Convention Venue
• Population: Clinton supporters, Obama supporters, super-delegates, pledged delegates, journalists
• Action Units:  State Democratic Party Organizations

I don’t want to speculate at this time what Rush’s Desired Effects are for these or other potential Operation Chaos Centers of Gravity.  I want you to do that.  So based on what you believe the Future Picture of Operation Chaos is, what are the Desired Effects for any or all of the above Centers of Gravity?

Tagged as: Centers of Gravity, Operation Chaos