I'm trying to piece together the actual facts about the event.
1. Everyone agrees this started with an IED explosion crippling a US vehicle.
2. There is no doubt that the IED attack killed one of our troops and wounded at least one other.
3. There are reports of a firefight.
4. There are reports of dead civilians.
First, I don't think our troops would have claimed that an IED explosion in the street would have killed civilians in their homes. It is illogical on its face.
Second, the critical issue appears to be the firefight report. When attacked, one must fire back. There should be no such thing as a "free attack."
When firefights happen and buildings are cleared, there will be deaths.
1. Everyone agrees this started with an IED explosion crippling a US vehicle.
2. There is no doubt that the IED attack killed one of our troops and wounded at least one other.
3. There are reports of a firefight.
4. There are reports of dead civilians.
We all agree on the facts.
The key part about the IED killing one American, and rendering the other American soldier on conscious is that this is the moment of enemy contact. When contact with the enemy is made, the rest of the team have an obligation to fight through the ambush and secure the bodies of the wounded and dead. This is no small thing. One of our guys, in an interview by a NBC affiliate recalls the IED going off, his driver being killed, and he woke up in the hospital 24 hours later, thanks to the rest of his team.
When 2 members of your team have been rendered combat ineffective by enemy contact, 1 wounded, the other dead, the rest of the team are obligated to go lethal.
In the weeks and months ahead, many people will attempt to over look these facts, and we should not let them.
The IED was the Atrocity, and that's the reality.