General Hagee wil understand the "Fog of War" this young hard-charger was experiencing. The news didn't state if the terrorist had a weapon (pretty much assuming he did), the Marine was well within his rights to shoot, this is a war zone, not some Police shooting range. I remember when we were getting a briefing for Somalia, out LT started into the "If a child approaches your tank with a basket and won't stop because they dont understand English, what do you do?" Everyone in the briefing room said they would either fire a warning shot or put the kid down right then and there. This wasn't the answer he was looking for, but self preservation wins out over political considerations.
The news media seems to cling to the idea that conventional warfare guidelines apply here. A 13 year old boy firing at you with an AK-47 is an enemy combatant. A 10 year old girl walking toward a HMWVV with a basket full of plastique is an enemy combatant. A wounded sniper that was moments before trying to kill you and your buddies on your fire-team and is now rolling over to set off the grenade under him so he can go to Allah, is an enemy combatant. This is beyond asinine to say this young Devil Dog had the time and judgement to make a decision about this situation. A terrorist that is still moving could be doing anything, pulling a knife to charge at you, a pistol, a grenade, the bunker may have been booby-trapped to blow up, or surrendering. I am guessing he was not surrendering...the mind set of the terrorists being that he gets to go to Allah and collect his virgins or whatever...
The media should realize what is good for them and let this one go.
Amen, Amen and Amen!
But then more video shots of the enemy acting unlawfully would be VERY helpful.