在本文研究的最後階段,嘗試以第一次波灣戰爭為個案,觀察美國率領的多國部隊在對付伊拉克軍隊時其戰略當中的虛實原則,並藉此檢視《孫子兵法》與《戰爭論》在沙漠風暴作戰中的適用性。 This research applied four strategic elements – force, time, space, and manoeuvre – to analyse the concept of “vacuity and substance” into three dimensions: the dimension of force, of manoeuvre, and of time and space. As a kind of principle of war, the aim of “vacuity and substance” is to achieve the effect “like a grindstone dashed against an egg.” Otherwise, this principle occupies the center of all the strategic system.
Through the analysis to the Art of War, it shows that the dimension of force includes the elements of quantity and quality; that of manoeuvre includes defense and attack, direct and indirect methods, initiate, and concentrate and divide; that of time and space includes the principle of the decision of target and timing. Trough the same framework to analyse On War can we also discover the principle of “vacuity and substance.” After the comparative research can we get several similarities and differences. Some similarity is in essence different, and some differences are not necessarily entirely different, some of them even have complementarities.
In the last chapter, the operational strategy in the first Gulf War will be discussed. In this case we will observe how US troop applied the principle of “vacuity and substance” in this war, and it will shows that the applicability of the Art of War and On War in the Desert Storm operation.