Lots of finger pointing or acquatisations of who said what during this fiasco. But the bottom line is both
......Spc. William B. Hunsaker and Pfc. Corey Clagett pleaded guilty, cooperated with prosecutors and were sentenced to 18 years in military prison. Both men said during their court hearings that Girouard ordered the killings......
The soldiers had previously told investigators they were given rules of engagement by 3rd Brigade commander Col. Michael Steele to kill all military-age men. Steele has denied this, but invoked his right not to testify.
A judge ruled last week that Steele won’t be forced testify, but defense attorneys could cross-examine the witnesses about their understanding of Steele’s order.
Gene Fidell, president of the National Institute of Military Justice, said it has become common in military trials for soldiers to testify they were just following orders or rules of engagement. But it’s not always an effective argument.
“If an order is illegal or commonly understood to be illegal, then it’s not a defense that you acted in compliance of that order,” Fidell said. “The fact that such an order was given doesn’t necessarily get anyone off the hook.”.........
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http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,258424,00.html?r_src=ramp
“If an order is illegal or commonly understood to be illegal, then it’s not a defense that you acted in compliance of that order,
There is no question that obama is not the legal CIC and thus can not order troops to Afghanistan. Lakin is not required to follow orders he knows were illegal. Lakin is nothing more than a political prisoner.