Once again, the words on the tape vindicate the young Marine as it is stated on the video that the terrorist/insurgent was "faking death." He did NOT shoot him out of malice as nothing like that was recorded on the video. He PERCEIVED the wounded/dead terrorist to be a threat. That was a reasonable assumption considering that the terrorists had feigned death before only to raise up and shoot at Marines. Also the terrorists had boobytrapped bodies before, costing American lives.
The young Marine made a reasonable assumption with the knowlege he had. He perceived the guy as a threat - whether he was or not is irrelevant - as the young made made a reasonable assumption, came to a reasonable conclusion, and made the right decision in eradicating a PERCEIVED threat. It was a judgement call, and a reasonable call, given the circumstances.
Case closed.
haha its about time someone else understands this argument!
I think we are forgetting here that children, women and all men over the age of forty-five were warned to flee the city. All men under forty-five were warned to go to checkpoints to surrender. This was done weeks before the assault. During the assault many bodies were booby-trapped and some surrendering insurgents actually opened fire on the troops. There were no innocents in Fallujah.