SLB, it is precisely because you have those hard, cold experiences that you understand and are unanimous in your feelings...along with, IMHO, being endowed with a good dose of common sense.
No one wants atrocities...but in this type of a fight, atrocities are the criminal and evil actions taken for their own sake. We have enemies doing that on a regular basis, and perhaps every now and then some of our own. This does not approach that standard or bar.
Following direct orders and written code is critical, but it is also paramount, in time-critical combat situations to allow for, and expect, discretion and judgement from our people. That is what West is guilty of, judgement and discretion that recognized the common sense of violating a written code in order to achieve the best possible results in his given situation.
It is against the law to speed...but when my wife went into quick contractions with our second child and we were still 25 miles from the hospital...I sped all the way there...and infracted the written and posted code by a considerable amount. Those 21 years ago, I do not know of a police officer who seeing the situation, would have impeded me...they would have led the way! I do not know of a jury that would have comvicted me.
It's perhaps not the best comparison...perhap[s the time I was assaulted IN LA and broke all kinds of "ruiles" toi chase down the perp and hold him until the Police got there would be a better one. Just the same, I pray there is good sense and virtue enough left in the 4th I.D HQ to be able to say the same of this episode.