I have been in a war zone. I know a lot of folks who've been in a war zone. None of them thought that kidnapping a civilian they didn't know from Adam, shooting him, and then planting a rifle and a shovel to make it look as if he was planting an IED was a good idea.
I think that's the whole point. That's why this story doesn't seem to make sense. I still give Savage credit for supporting the troops through thick and thin. If their story doesn't hold up, then perhaps there was some duplicity invovled.