The Fog of War

This flow traces the widening gap between what commanders observe, what soldiers experience, and what either side can know.

increasingBearing stren­gth in each eventdecreasing

A Screen’s View

Watching from Above Images Without Sensation Commanders watched surveillance video of the raid and saw crowds gathering around the fight. The images offered detail but not the sound, fear, and bodily shock experienced below. Limited Options From the command center, officers could track movement but could not easily alter events on the street. Information was abundant, yet its meaning and usefulness remained limited.

Directions Arrive Late

A Maze of Information Relayed Orders An aircraft crew had to send some directions through the operations center before the convoy received them. By the time drivers heard the message, they could already have passed the intended turn. Knowledge Without Control The command staff saw a route on screens, while the convoy met intersections, gunfire, and damaged vehicles. The gap between observation and action made information itself part of the danger.

Confusion at the Linkup

Friendly Forces in Darkness A Risky Meeting The relief column approached the isolated soldiers after a night of fighting. Both sides had to identify one another in darkness before moving through the same streets. No Complete Picture The rescue force could not know every position or casualty, and the defenders could not see who was approaching. The battle's confusion persisted even at the moment help finally arrived.

October 3, 1993, during the opening assault

October 3, 1993, late afternoon

October 4, 1993, before dawn