Our standing ROE would allow the Sailors and Marines, as well as the host ship, with other assets in the air, like gunships, to respond with appropriate force due to a threat of a hostile act. The standing ROE of the US includes an inherent right of self-defense to protect personnel and equipment.
see my post above. I believe in our standing ROE and I concur with it.
So do our ROE.
However, they were outnumbered and outgunned. It was not possible without certain death.