Yes. I wouldn't use "soften the blow," but it does seem to take some of the edge off when, and if, charges come down.
Contrast this with the way the Pentagon acted as if it was blind-sided by Abu Ghraib.
Perhaps....but, I don't like leaks at all...and I think this just stirs up NEW stories from Iraq, that all of a sudden ANOTHER case of our military massacreing civilians is "found"...
Plus, as has been said many times on the Haditha threads...in that culture, it is a good thing to be a liar...so, I don't know how our military can actually KNOW when/if to believe anyone that is supposedly a "witness".