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Any fully sane person hates war. We rationalize because it is standard issue based on our fallen state with God.
This Marine Lord willing is going to meet the same destiny as the other members of his patrol. Dropped charges.
He served with honor and bravery and will be vindicated.
For many years in the background of my mind I have thought how so many people otherwise perhaps fine folk, can sit back and place judgement upon our military folk who often have to put their hides out each day and attempt to survive brutal combat, thinking they are brutal by nature of something.
If it where up to me, I would have every teenager boys and girls have to go through Marine Corps. basic training.
Let them pass in review in the graduation ceremonies, with pride and accomplishment in their hearts.
Then let them go forth in their choosen path in life realizeing these Marines are trained for a purpose, and that is to fully obey and carry out within the ROE whatever is required to win a given conflict between them and their enemy.
With all the frigen news showing anyone that does not have their heads in the sand, how brutal and bestial so many of the Arabs in Iraq and elsewhere conduct themselves, killing their own people(s), how could anyone with a sane mind not consider just how tough these Marines and Soldiers have it in these two battle grounds.
These trials are frigen political charades and nothing more.
This sargeant had better have his good name clear in the near future. He did what he had to do to keep his patrol alive and functional within the battle that occured.
With that being said. I have to hit the sack. Have a great upcoming day.

can sit back and place judgement upon our military folk who often have to put their hides out each day and attempt to survive brutal combat, thinking they are brutal by nature of something

That is the heart of this, Uncle; you've nailed it dead center.

The truth is that even a combat veteran cannot know what was happening in that town on that day. How much less can a civilian, or the media, or military desk jockeys have any idea.

The events, the dangers, the emotions, and the decisions of that day were entrusted into the hands of this young leader, SSG Wuterich. The attempt to recreate that years later is an affront, because it can never encompass everything that needs to be factored in. For example, I've not seen one report yet that attempted to focus on the daylong battle that was going on all around this one little squad of SSG Wutterich. They paint this as if his action was the only action ongoing that day. But that entire company and battalion was engaged. By the media giving the impression that this house-clearing was all that was happening, the "judges in armchairs" are deceived into thinking this was an isolated incident. It is an ommission of ubsurd proportions; it would be like focusing on one squad on D-Day and pretending nothing else was going on around them that had any impact on them.

May the good Lord help the leaders: SSG Wutterich, LTC Chessani, Cpt McConnell, and the others. They were called to make split second decisions as part of a larger operation and purpose, and very few media outlets are allowing that larger operation and purpose to be seen.