Come on! Even a teenager who plays video games could figure that one out! That guy looks more like the new Iraqi Soldiers. Maybe the picture was done stateside with hmmm a airsoft gun and a guy that bought some surplus gear?

Posted by: HaloStrike at August 31, 2007 11:33 PM

I agree that it deserves the ultimate Doh! Although I contend that it is no less reckless to assume that just because "Maybe" the Boeing production of the image was done Stateside,by one of their employee's...Does not in anyway....mean that it was Done by an AMERICAN !

Posted by: Grayskull at May 3, 2007 04:22 AM

Brian posted in part " . . . The documentary filmmaker probably doesn't know an AK-47 from an M1-A2 Abrams. Now SOMEBODY at Boeing would be able to tell the difference between the two rifles, but that doesn't mean that that would be the person who works in Boeing's marketing department." I assume Brian is being facetious, AK-47 is a rifle but M1A2 Abrams is a Main Battle Tank (not a rifle). LOL

Posted by: eric at April 20, 2007 04:18 PM

Picture of the average person who gets worked up over this image:

http://img178.imageshack.us/img178/3355/dont20worry20sir20im20from20the20internetui7.jpg

Posted by: Bill at April 18, 2007 07:52 PM

George Bush did it! He took the picture. When did he do it? When did he know it? Some poor moogh died just so he could look good!

Posted by: snakeeater at April 17, 2007 03:58 PM

I don't know, this looks like a typical army soldier to me; from the outline of the Kevlar to the body armor line at the shoulders to the way the blouse flares out at the hips and the way the cargo pockets on the trousers expands out to the goofy way they blouse their trousers into the tops of their boots. Chances are he just took an AK-47 off of somebody due to the increased stopping power of the 7.62X39 round vs. our 5.56. Also, though they aren't very accurate past about 300 yards, that's all relative in a predominantly MOUT environment where the ranges tend to be much shorter. Just my two cents, SGT Vink USMC

Posted by: Gary Vink at April 17, 2007 01:01 PM

Could be an Iraqi Army soldier, or Iraqi policeman. But, I would not be surprised if it was an American either. Could be anyone of those three, but who really cares? We are all on the same side. I mean who says it has to be a picture of an American anyway? I know for a fact that it is not the enemy, because the enemy does not wear helemts and body armor.

Posted by: Joe at April 17, 2007 11:37 AM

Obviously, you haven't seen the thousands of photos of American servicemen carrying AKs. When we seize weapons caches, pick up dead enemies' weapons, etc. we are usually picking up AK-47s or AK-74s, along with RPG-7s, etc. Most people prefer the 7.62 round over the 5.56, therefore, it is not uncommon to see an American carrying an AK in Iraq. Come on man, get over the picture.

Posted by: Jon at April 17, 2007 11:32 AM

dont some special forces use enemy weapons so that they can get extra ammunition off the bad guys' dead bodies.

i know in south africa the special forces were paradropped into enemy territory with enemy weapons (ie: AK's) so that they could replenish ammunition off their kills.

that is an american special forces soldier using an enemy weapon.

i cant believe you guys missed it.

Posted by: whocares at April 17, 2007 10:51 AM

Brian, i think you're better at recognizing assault rifles than you are at sarcasm!

Posted by: C at April 17, 2007 10:44 AM

Earl, anyone with a brain WHO KNOWS WHAT AN AK-47 LOOKS LIKE would have recognized it immediately. 99% of people in the world can't tell the difference between the silhouette of an AK-47 and any of the various US combat rifles.

Seriously, when people get offended over things like this, it makes me think they haven't been REALLY insulted in far too long.

Posted by: Brian at April 17, 2007 10:02 AM

Allow me to clarify . . . US Special Forces who train foreign fighters ALWAYS use the weapon that the foreign fighter uses. He is a US soldier who is either embedded with an Iraqi army unit or with Iraqi police.

Posted by: Andrew at April 17, 2007 10:00 AM

Yes, almost anyone with a brain would have noticed the AK-47 immediately, without the necessity for explanation.

Having worked at a corporation almost as large as Boeing (Pfizer), I'm pretty certain that no one but a few corporate execs. in advertising ever saw this ad. And advertising people are responsible for our advertising--so you know how smart they are.

I've sent e-mail to Boeing, wwwmail.boeing2@boeing.com, telling them in no uncertain terms how insulted I am, and how stupid I think they are.

If we all do that, I am certain that Boeings Corpoarte leadership will never hear about it, and they will continue to give a damn less about the opinions of American veterans and citizens.

Posted by: Earl at April 17, 2007 09:07 AM

Well, while I'm very impressed by the perceptive abilities of those here at Defensetech, I don't think this is a big deal at all. The documentary filmmaker probably doesn't know an AK-47 from an M1-A2 Abrams. Now SOMEBODY at Boeing would be able to tell the difference between the two rifles, but that doesn't mean that that would be the person who works in Boeing's marketing department. This picture was probably approved by a 26 year old former homecoming queen. Honestly, I'd have never noticed the difference in the picture, you can't expect marketing people to do so. This is similar to the University of Florida sports media guide from a year or two ago. Turns out the picture on the cover of the UF Gator media guide wasn't of an alligator, but of a crocodile. Oops.

Posted by: Brian at April 17, 2007 08:10 AM

Why assume that the image is a US soldier?

The documentary is about the US experience in Iraq, which happens to involve guys with AKs playing a leading role.

Posted by: Wembley at April 17, 2007 07:40 AM

I think Boeing with all their billions of dollars can afford a picture of a person who is no doubt an American soldier with A Eugene Stoner designed weapon.

Posted by: Jonathan at April 17, 2007 06:06 AM

I think Boeing with all their billions of dollars can afford a picture of a person who is no doubt an American soldier with A Eugene Stoner designed weapon.

Posted by: Jonathan at April 17, 2007 06:05 AM

I think Boeing with all their billions of dollars can afford a picture of a person who is no doubt an American soldier with A Eugene Stoner designed weapon.

Posted by: Jonathan at April 17, 2007 06:05 AM

I think Boeing with all their billions of dollars can afford a picture of a person who is no doubt an American soldier with A Eugene Stoner designed weapon.

Posted by: Jonathan at April 17, 2007 06:04 AM

Anyone who has been in Afghanistan knows that it is not uncommon to see the varieties of M-16s, AR-15s, and AK-47/74, and even PKM carried by regular foot soldiers.

Posted by: D18 at April 16, 2007 09:36 PM

What he said, along with Spec Ops also carry the same, so not a big surpise.... And the stance doesn't look to me as any different than those I've seen on our guys.

But then, Boeing was never big on the military until they assumed MDD's apron and assets, so competence in advetising isn't an expectation....

Posted by: P. Turpin at April 17, 2007 05:05 AM

could be an SF operator (Green Beret or sumthin)... the helmet sillhouete looks pretty American

Posted by: Alex at April 17, 2007 12:00 AM

Well the pants are tucked into the boots, the Iraqi Army does that. The helmet is on crooked, they do that as well. There is a scarf around his neck, IA does that so they can quickly disguise themselves from locals. It is an old-school flack, not a plate carrier. The AK is slung over his neck in a way that makes it unemployable unless removed from around his neck, thats an IA thing too. No gloves, most US troops wear them because its a requirement. And finally, its an AK. So no, there is no way thats anything but IA. End of speculation otherwise. As for the debate on if thats offensive or not, I find it offensive as a US Marine just because I don't like those guys - not really for any other reason.

Posted by: US Marine at April 16, 2007 10:30 PM

Anyone who has been in Afghanistan knows that it is not uncommon to see the varieties of M-16s, AR-15s, and AK-47/74, and even PKM carried by regular foot soldiers.

Posted by: D18 at April 16, 2007 09:36 PM

well by the helmet outline and the way the soldier is pictured it could be an iraqi soldier. but all is speculation. i know of some u.s. soldiers who carried ak's when they could because they didn't trust their m-4's.

Posted by: WALLACE MCNABB at April 16, 2007 09:30 PM

I noticed this in today's Washington Post. To me it doesn't matter if it was an American soldier posing with an AK (although I think was more likely an Iraqi), if you're going to advertise to an AMERICAN audience, about AMERICAN soldiers, then you should have a picture with an AMERICAN weapon.

Posted by: Motive25 at April 16, 2007 08:53 PM

Only in america do we have dumb dumb' Withnothing to do, like our reps in Washington.
Boeing is a leader in their prfession,

Posted by: COCHISE at April 16, 2007 08:34 PM

by any chances they could Spcial Forces.

Posted by: lurch at April 16, 2007 06:51 PM

Could it be an Iraqi soldier ?

Posted by: MzK at April 16, 2007 06:24 PM

The photo was taken by a US combat photographer - you can find it on flickr - and seems right at home with a project designed to see the war through the eyes of troops. This image was captured by an American serviceman, and thereby seen quite literally through his eyes.

Also the number of US troops who have stopped to pose for a picture with an AK has got to be in the tens of thousands. You can find many dozens on the net in a matter of seconds.

This guy may or may not be an American (or a guy) but if that's what seems noteworthy out of today's Washington Post, you guys should start reading and not just looking at the pictures.

Posted by: FiftyFive at April 16, 2007 05:49 PM

This may be a stretch, but I think the vest looks a bit less bulky than the IBA: It may be one of those '90s era PASGT (or is it PAGST) vest thingys nowadays found on Iraqi army troopers.

Posted by: Charles at April 16, 2007 05:33 PM

They wouldn't know, AK's aren't in their purview. AK's dont cost a few thousand a pop each, so they don't appear on their radar.

Posted by: Charles at April 16, 2007 05:30 PM

Many special ops troopers use AK's to blend in and look native. Also, because of the distinctive sound of the AK over the M4 it won't give them away when firing.

Nah, they blew it!!

Posted by: bobbymike at April 16, 2007 05:20 PM

chances are, whatever line producer at boeing's creative department wouldn't know an AK from an M16, and possibly wouldn't know an ass from an elbow. a goof to be sure, but not that difficult to go unnoticed. unfortunately for them, the prime demographic for this show WILL be noticing.

Posted by: C at April 16, 2007 05:08 PM

Pete,

First, I didn't write the entry you cited, Noah did. Second, I've been to Iraq a couple times for several months and have seen a US trooper carrying an AK maybe once or twice. And it was always as an "extra" weapon in the vehicle. I have a hard time believing, if given the chance, the ad designers would have knowingly put an image of an American soldier carrying a foreign weapon to flak their movie about the American experience in current wars...

But good catch, in any case!

Posted by: Christian at April 16, 2007 04:47 PM

What about http://www.defensetech.org/archives/000541.html ?

Posted by: Pete Kirkham at April 16, 2007 04:24 PM

DOH!

Can recognize that damn AK muzzle a mile away.

They SHOULD have caught that.

Posted by: Army Brat at April 16, 2007 04:23 PM