My support for this young marine is not blind support - it is reasoned and I have spelled out those reasons repeatedly. These terrorists were known to boobytrap bodies, to fake death and use other means of trickery to kill our marines - fact of the war that the marines deal with every moment they are in combat.
The audio of the tape proves the motive behind the shooting - the young marine PERCEIVED the guy to be a threat - that is a fact born out by the video which shows the motive behind the shooting - self defense. To assume anything otherwise it to attribute a malicious motive to the shooting and there is NOTHING that indicates in any way, shape or form that this was a malicious act - but EVERYTHING points to the marine seeing this as an act of self defense. Would it have been a mistake if the guy WAS faking death? And how do you know he wasn't? And how do we even know if he was alive when he was shot?
Whether it was an actual threat is TOTALLY IRRELEVANT as it was PERCEIVED as a real threat - and by the circumstances of the shooting, by the knowlege of how these terrorists fight - I believe the actions of the marine were justified. I think when all shakes out, every reasonable, fair-minded person will conclude that this was a justified act of self defense because the young marine PERCEIVED it as a threat. Hindsight is always perfect, and armchair quarterbacks always know the right moves - but dealing with the realities of war in real time is what these young marines are dealing with and we cannot begin to put ourselves in their shoes.
We may just have to agree to disagree on some things, but I do agree with you that I want the young marine exonerated, and I believe he will be, rightfully. There is no evidence of malice in this shooting. It was a reasoned judgement call that this young marine made and it is obvious he did it to save the lives of himself and those around him. We must tread very lightly when we begin to second guess his judgement in what could have been a life and death situation in a war zone. We owe it to him to give him the benefit of the doubt.
Without replying to your entire post at this hour :-) I want to comment on this first line. I didn't mean to imply that your support was blind; I was referring to some who I think were giving blind support, even stating they didn't know the facts but support regardless. Sorry for the confusion.