text: The Defense
  political, and legal considerations. Additionally, civil instability increased by the destruction of civilian
  property, material, and equipment could have adverse effects on the outcomes of future operations.
  8-30. Commanders who order denial operations consider the potential value of the military equipment and
  supplies to an enemy force when determining the priorities and the extent of the operation. Examples of high
  priorities for denial include—
  * Classified equipment, material, and documents.
  * Petroleum, oils, and lubricants (known as POL).
  * Sophisticated weapon systems or electronic equipment.
  * Heavy weapons and associated ammunition.
  * Communications equipment.
  * Ferrying and bridging equipment.
  * Air, sea, and land transport systems.
  * Any other military supplies, equipment, or facilities are a lesser priority in denial operations.
  8-31. Denial also prevents an enemy from repairing a system by cannibalizing several systems. Commanders
  issue detailed instructions to deny military equipment and supplies to prevent an enemy force from using
  them. The unit must destroy the same parts in each type of system.
  8-32. Denial differs from countermobility operations because commanders design denial operations to
  deprive the enemy force of some, or all, of the short-term benefits of capturing an area. The impact of denial
  operations on civilian inhabitants and the environment of the area act as a moral and a legal constraint on
  their use by U.S. forces. Commanders involve their legal advisor and civil affairs operations staff in planning
  denial operations.
  8-33. Commanders ensure that executing the denial plan does not adversely affect the unit's future
  operations. This includes carefully considering the force's demolition policy in relation to the purpose of the
  rearward movement and the contemplated subsequent actions of the force. Widespread demolitions during a
  retrograde may greatly hinder a friendly force moving back into the area more than enemy forces during a
  friendly retrograde. For example, destroying the transportation infrastructure increases friendly force
  logistics difficulties once friendly forces recapture an area. Removing or destroying militarily significant
  supplies and equipment, such as fuel, obstacle materials, and rail cars, from an area requires friendly forces
  to bring similar assets with them when they reoccupy an area.
  8-34. Commanders can expand a denial operation to prevent enemy forces from exploiting resources, such
  as—
  * Fuel, minerals, and the civilian population.
  * Facilities, such as river locks, railroad switching yards, road interchanges, bridges, and industrial
  plants.
  * Routes of communication, such as telephone exchanges, radio stations, and television stations.
  8-35. The defending force can assist civil authorities in evacuating civilians. The defending force either
  removes the resources, supplies, and facilities from areas abandoned to enemy forces or destroys them in
  place. Denial operations may be either total or limited.
  8-36. Total denial operations can produce long-term political, economic, military, and environmental effects.
  Total denial operations have operational level, and possibly strategic level, impact. Total denial operations
  consume large quantities of transportation and engineer resources and require considerable time to plan and
  execute.
  8-37. Limited or partial denial operations are particularly suitable if a defending force expects to regain
  control of the area within a short time. The removal or destruction of only a few key components can reduce
  a facility to limited utility, yet it allows for the facility's quick restoration of all functions upon its return to
  friendly control. American forces only destroy discrete targets of significant military value. Limited denial
  operations normally do not affect the advance of properly supported enemy formations possessing cross-
  country mobility. However, they can seriously impede an enemy force's road bound and rail bound logistics
  support if commanders properly plan and execute them.