I actually looked at it as a clever effort by the military to get some of the worst of this out on a Friday afternoon before a long weekend, when most people aren't paying attention to the news.
I suspect the actual report will not be as bad as leaked reports, not good, but not as bad as the MSM would like.
I know what you're saying about press release strategies, but on this weekend of all weekends????
Example - on the front page of my local news rag this morn was a story about a patriotic ceremony with pictures of flag-waving elementary school children, Boys Scouts raising the colors, and the headline MARINES INVESTIGATED IN DEATHS (murders) right below it. Gaaaack. TV news stations aren't being shy either - they'll run a bit about area ceremonies, get-togethers or what-have-you honoring Troops and then zip right to the "murdering Marines" story, or vice versa, however they have it scheduled for their broadcast order. Feces slinging in my book.