Apache Attack Analysis

4/6/2010

I thought it might be interesting if I applied my video analysis skills to the Apache attack video that is making its way around the internet.
     The bottom line is that I can understand why the Apache crews made the decision that they did.
     The attack on the journalists, while tragic, appears to be one of those things that happens during war; the journalists got caught up in attack on a legitimate target. At the time of the attack, the journalists were walking with — if not embedded with — a group of armed insurgents and got caught up an in attack on those insurgents.

Apache Attack Analysis - Frame 1

The frame above shows the two journalists — walking ahead of a group of armed insurgents — with their camera bags slung over their right shoulders. I assume that these were mistaken for slung weapons. While these clearly look like camera bags to me, it's hard to second guess the judgment made by someone on a combat situation.

Apache Attack Analysis - Frame 2

The two photographers (the second one is still in the frame and just below and to the right of the crosshairs) were followed by at least two heavily armed men. The first person's weapon is highlighted and is either an RPG or a machine gun.
     I originally thought it was an RPG but now think it may have been a machine gun because of the way the bearer handles it. In a moment, he sets it on the ground, butt side down, and then leans up against it. I'm not sure that you'd lean up against the business end of an RPG.[1]

Apache Attack Analysis - Frame 3

The frame above clearly shows an AK-47 in the right hand of a fairly large man. The guy with the RPG or machine gun is to the right and is just about to swing around to his left.

Apache Attack Analysis - Frame 4

In the frame above, the man with the RPG or machine gun has turned around to look behind him and you can see his weapon on profile. This is NOT a camera lens and is very clearly a weapon. While the Apache crew was seeing something with the photographers' camera bags, this is CLEARLY a weapon and would have made it clear that this group posed a threat.

Apache Attack Analysis - Frame 5

The frame above is a bit ambiguous. I think it shows one of the photographers picking up a camera with a long lens attached. However, that is an AWFULLY long lens and actually looks like a LAW (Light Anti-Tank Weapon) or similar anti-tank weapon.

Apache Attack Analysis - Frame 6

In the frame above the object looks more like a camera lens. However, imagine trying to make that decision in a split second and when you know for a fact that there is a guy with an RPG nearby (he's actually standing behind the guy who's peaking around the corner). Talk about the fog of war.

[1] A Washington Post reporter who was in the neighborhood at the time was just interviewed on NPR's TOTN and he confirmed that a RPG was found under one of the bodies, so this most likely was the RPG.