[discostu]

Fox had the footage on this morning, he saved lives including those of his guys. This wasn't a handful of civilians this was a potential mob and they were EXTREMELY agitated, looked like a riot was starting right then and there, by having his guys back down he difused the situation quickly and without bloodshed. We can setup a perimeter to get the bad guys when they leave and go around the mosque. Much better than pitting a dozen marines against a thousand civilians already in close contact. The guy was very smart.

[Billthedrill]

Concur - I saw that clip too. And there were Muslim clerics interposing themselves between the crowd and the troops.

A little respect never hurts. Greases the social skids, and it doesn't make 'em bulletproof.

[Toskrin]

I saw the footage too. It was well-handled by the American commanding officer. The whole thing was a misunderstanding too. The confrontation occurred several blocks away from the mosque. The local cleric had been under house arrest for several years. He wanted to come out and support the American troops, but was afraid of the Fedayeen, so he asked for an escort by the American troops. The troops started moving toward his home, which was in the direction of the mosque. The crowd mistakenly thought that our soldiers were moving in on the mosque and blocked the way. It got pretty wild. There was even footage of the cleric coming out and speaking to the crowd to try to calm them, but he got drowned out and gave up. Our guys knelt down and pointed their guns at the ground in deference. The crowd calmed and we basically walked away.

[Bryan24]

That unit leader probably earned a nice commendation letter for his coolness in a tough situation.