FOG AND FRICTION (56.46)

War is complicated. Friendly-fire incidents, collateral damage, and plans that fall apart under the stress of combat seem unavoidable. Fog and Friction looks at three specific battles and examines the uncertainty of war in Iraq and Afghanistan. The film also examines the role of the media in modern warfare and the issues of disinformation, perspective, and dependency in these same environments.

3/7 Marines prepare to cross into Iraq during the race for Baghdad, unsure of the strength of their opponent. Later, both soldiers from the 101st Air Assault Division and 3/7 Marines find themselves on the outskirts of Baghdad facing an enemy that has blended into the civilian population. Finally, the pilots and gunners of Bravo Company Apaches meet heavy resistance that requires them to improvise new tactical strategies on the fly during Operation Anaconda in eastern Afghanistan. These stories of battlefield risks and victories are intertwined with stories that illustrate the role of the media in war zones during the uprising at Qala-i-Jangi fortress, Afghanistan in 2002 and as embedded journalists on the Thunder Run to Baghdad in 2003.

Fog and Friction is a glimpse into the decision making process at the height of battle, the ability of the media to portray an accurate view of war, and, according to military scientists, what is being done on a continual basis to overcome the uncertainty of fog and friction.