This is bullcrap. There is no way in the world that in urban fighting the military would issue ROEs that require positive ID of hostile intent before protecting yourself.
I've clearly read elsewhere that the ROEs on that day were of the "when feel threatened" variety. Also, I've read that they were permitted to fire through walls and clear rooms unseen with grenades.
I don't know who this prosecutor is, but he can't have combat experience. You don't stand in the doorway of a hostile room and ask for a headcount of the non-hostile occupants.
It's insane.
Other squads also engaged in the area report calling in 500 pound bombs from aircraft and destroying entire buildings. Did they have to forward their non-hostile head count first?
It's flippin' idiotic.
Good points, xzins. In the other engagement, the squad used air power to kill the insurgents and anybody else in the building. The prosecutor is being ticky tacky in trying to pick apart the ROE’s that were or weren’t followed to the letter and in sequence. I tend to think hesitating when you’re taking small arms fire and your squad has been cut down to only 9 of the 12 original leads to you and/or your buddies getting killed.
As far as the $5,000, what’s wrong with thinking of Terrazes’ family at the time? Those are thoughts, not actions. Does anybody know where that money went? This is first I’ve heard that it was this much.
Dela Cruz’s other junk about an alleged conversation about how Marines are expected, or ought, to fight this war is a discussion. Dela Cruz was granted immunity vs. facing life in prison. Wonder why he was talking so softly during the hearing?