Eye in the sky (case summary)

In Analysis of business problems this week, we reviewed a movie case titled Eyes in the sky. This was our first case in video format and it was about the US intelligence team trying to capture some terrorists initially but then the mission changed to a kill mission because the terrorists were planning a suicide attack. 

Colonel Katherine Powell, a military officer is in command of an operation to capture some terrorists In Kenya. She had been monitoring these terrorists for about six years and finally got a close mark on them. While using a secret drone to monitor their movements before deciding the perfect time to clamp down on them, the terrorists entered police restricted zone. In here she could still monitor their operations via remote surveillance and an on-ground intel. She discovered these terrorists were planning a suicide bombing and this escalates the mission from capture to kill.  But as American pilot lieutenant Steve watts was about to engage, a nine-year-old girl walks into the kill zone triggering an international dispute. This dispute reached the highest levels of U.S and British government as the colonel needed clearance on whether to engage to kill or not. 

This action would have moral, personal and political implications if not clarified before taking action. There seemed to be a long debate on if the colonel should call the shots or not as the British ambassador who was the counsel overlooking this case was just newly appointed and had zero experience on matters like this. She seemed to support a propaganda that shed save the little girl’s life and sacrifice the tens or hundreds of people the suicide bombers would kill. While the decisions were being made the suicide bombers were suiting up their moles for the operation. They were wearing their vests and making videos which they would put out to claim responsibility for the actions after it has been done.  The little girl on the other hand was selling bread just outside the building the suicide bombers were in. She had sold a set of 4 loaves finish then she left. Just when the military was about to proceed with their mission, the little girl appeared with 10 more loaves of bread. This then caused them to halt. 

The Colonel sends her intel on-ground intel to buy off the bread from this girl so she can leave the premises but rather than going after selling, she stayed back. Col. Powell then had to measure how much the collateral damage would be if the missile is sent with this child around. After a while, her team could predict a 45-65% damage and by this the little girl had a chance to survive. Col. Powell has to present these data to get clearance to launch. She mentioned to the council it was 45% instead of 45-65% otherwise they would not have granted permission. 

The missile was launched and the targets died except one. The little girl also sustained some serious injuries. Since one of the major targets did not die, another missile was launched and this time the target was taken out and luckily the little girl did not sustain any further injuries.