There are two missions.
In the first, a sniper team was deployed to a remote location, with a rapid reaction force to be deployed by helicopter to extracate them or reinforce them as might become necessary, possibly to exploit a developing situation.
This unit did the right thing to let the herdsmen move along. But, upon the arrival a hundred armed insurgents, the plan to deploy the rapid reaction force broke down when their helicopter was shot down, leading to the deaths of something like twenty of our guys.
Hopefully, our commanders - up to and including the President - learn from experiences like this, so as to provide the back-up needed by small, remotely-deployed units, so they maintain their discipline when put to the test.
Possibly, it is a rare thing for a helicopter to be shot down, and you don’t need to accompany troop carrying helicopters with escort helicopters to suppress ground forces, and this was just a very unfortunate instance. Perhaps you have to be able to call in fire support from ground-based artillery, or have high flyers in the air 24/7 that you can call in. Perhaps missile-carrying drones can do the job.
In the second instance, the commander of the small unit thought to take matters into his own hands, instead of following the rules of engagement, and killed/murdered a passerby.
Loyalty is a two-way street. Our people have to be loyal to us, maintianing their discipline, and we have to be loyal to them, backing them up as we have to. When this two-way street breaks down, it is a sure sign we are stetched too thin.
I agree with you. My brother Raymond GIrouard had to make a loyal decision. He did what he thought was best at the time and followed orders. He is also serving ten years with Evan at Ft.Leavenworth.
First off, they (Hensley,Vela) were following their ROE. They were given the green light to kill anyone who they felt posed a threat.
Secondly, this supposed "passerby", a "taxi" driver, was also purportedly in that area to turn on a pump on that didn't exist. He was never positively identified as the person they said he was, and intel reported, in the weeks following his killing, insurgent activity dropped by 90% in that area. In fact, when investigators showed area residents his photograph, no one could identify him.
Third, it was testified that Vela was so sleep deprived he was running on autopilot, they all were. Check out the Hannity story on DefendOurTroops.
And for all this, you only pay the unbelievably low price of TEN YEARS IN LEAVENWORTH. But wait there's more...