FWIW, I agree that the reporter did nothing wrong with the possible exception of not turning the tape over to military authorities.
I posted on another thread last night that I couldn't understand what the soldier was thinking. In retrospect, it was an ill-considered comment; I completely understand what must have been going through his head.
What I've come to realize is that allowing running cameras on the front lines is a mistake. Will soldiers now hesitate because they're afraid of how an act will play out on TV, where it's most assuredly seen out of context?
I think it's most likely that both the marine and reporter did their jobs well in this instance. It's the system that put them together in that room that's broken down, and likely will again.
I think you're right on target here. The larger media that seems to be on a witch hunt for this Marine is the problem. I haven't seen that Sites has encouraged any of this, but he may have. I knew a couple of embedded reporters who were both former military themselves. They have a grasp of what's happening and do a good job, but I think when the copy and the photos and the video get back stateside the problem starts. If Sites sold this story as a murder, then clearly he does need a severe beating, but I just haven't seen the evidence of that. I had hoped someone would link me to something suggesting he'd done something wrong. Instead, I was called a troll.