According to the military quoted in the article, the rules of engagement specifically did NOT allow them to "shoot first and ask questions later", instead it specifically prohibited putting women and children in danger unless "absolutely necessary". 11 women and children are dead, so now the question is, was it absolutely necessary.
Someone thinks it wasn't, so there will be a trial to determine whether it was or not. We can either trust the military to hold a fair trial, or we can admit that we can't trust our military to be fair. I'm not going to countenance the charge that our military is incapable of holding a fair trial.
I'm sorry, but the ROEs wouldn't use the words "shoot first and ask questions later."
But that is ALWAYS understood. One protects oneself first and if there is any fear at all, then one fires. The ROEs MUST have had a line about self-protection.
Beyond that, the ROEs at that time also permitted firing through walls and grenades in rooms.
Now, although the above is true, that is not my issue.
My issue is that these Marines cannot receive a fair trial in this Marine Corps with Murtha's comments public record.
Their entire trial should be taken out of the hands of any active duty military.