The real shame is good soldiers are fighting and dying for our comfy home while this group took a pass.
These folks are not under civilian law. Looks like they got some press to stir things up. It will only hurt them in the end. I've been present during courts-martial proceedings. They don't take to kindly to civilian lawyers.
What happened here is a fundamental breakdown of military discipline. It CANNOT/and WILLNOT go unpunished.
Some of these folks may get off with an ART 15 but anyone who is senior will more than likely feel the wrath of military justice.
Or as they say "They will be making big ones into little ones."
From the get-go when this story first broke, and throughout -- the group "didn't show up" for their 7am appoint to convey to the appointment mission spot. Meaning, they were AWOL, no? And yes, the rest -- armored/unarmored.. contaminated diesel or not.. stand-downs, I understand.
However, through all the threads, this is what continued to get me -- the group didn't show up for their 7am appointment to begin the convoy. We can all count on the media and most people missing this VERY IMPORTANT DETAIL. Doesn't matter about the condition of the trucks -- that would have been a standard "stand down" issue. But this group DID NOT SHOW UP at the "ordered" time. Period. Therefore they were AWOL. no?
"Innocent until proven guilty." If anyone deserves this...it would be our men and women serving in combat.
I am not saying that they should not be punished if they have done something wrong...but at least give the authorities enough time to investigate what happened and PROVE them wrong before bringing the hammer down on them. Is that too much to ask?