Factual error: In one scene they are playing on an Xbox 360, but the Xbox 360 did not come out until 2005, and the game being played, Gears of War, wasn't released until 2006. The movie takes place in 2004.
Factual error: When SGT Sanborn is placing the items in the white box, you can see his special skill badges. He has an EOD badge placed above his Combat Infantryman's Badge which should never happen. While it is possible for an EOD member to have a CIB (second MOS), no badge is ever worn above the CIB, EIB, or CAB. (00:09:25)
Factual error: In the car bomb defusing scene, Specialist Eldridge spots a possible insurgent filming him with a video camera and states "He's getting ready to put me on YouTube." However, the film is set in the summer of 2004 (according to the official website), while YouTube was founded in February of 2005. (00:36:15)
Factual error: Sgt Sanborn is shown wearing a Combat Infrantryman's Badge, and he says that before EOD he was Military Intelligence, however, Infantry is the only MOS that gets the badge while everyone else gets the Combat Action Badge. Also the Combat Infantryman's Badge would be worn above any other badge, in the movie he wears it under the EOD badge.
Factual error: The EOD team seems to travel alone much of the movie. EOD travel in a convoy for protection.
Factual error: Takes place in 2004, however, ACU uniform was not issued Army wide until 2005.
Factual error: In the scene where the taxicab overruns the roadblock, he would have likely been shot before even coming close. Rules of engagement for a roadblock dictate that any vehicle not responding to commands to stop or after firing warning shots would be lit up, especially at such fast speed, which is a sign of aggression.
Factual error: In the scene where Sanborn goes to James trailer he is wearing two American flags on each shoulder when only one is supposed to be worn above the combat patch right shoulder. This can also be seen later when LTC Cambridge sits down with Eldride when he is playing the X-Box in which case Eldridge does not wear any flags could be he just got back from mission and has not replaced them on his uniform.
Factual error: Sgt. James (Renner) is with a 5th Generation iPod Classic in his room at Camp Victory. This iPod model wasn't released until 2005 while the film is set in 2004. In addition, he is wearing 2007-era Apple headphones, which weren't available in 2004 either.
Answer: The problem for the sniper was once he'd taken his shot, he was now pretty exposed. He didn't have a lot of cover and it wouldn't have taken the Americans long to figure out where the shot came from, hence why the enemy snipers made no attempt to move.
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