I'm telling you something is fishy. You can think so or not. Here are my first 10, of many questions.
1st: Why would just some of them change out of uniform and not others, if they were trying to be sneaky. that makes no sense.
2nd: What are the chances of 5 US soldiers planning on committing rape and murder. One, maybe two, but 5? And why would they talk about it openly for others to supposedly hear?
3rd: Just how would they burn their clothes? Would they do it incamp for everyone else to see, including their commanding officers? Why would they show up in bloody civies. No criminal wants to be caught and that sounds about as reckless as possible.
4th: Why does it make sense that someone would stay behind on the radio and cover for them? This Green guy was not an officer, so asking someone to do that or for someone to watch the door is way beyond the abilities of a private.
5th: If he was plotting the rape as is alledged and it was overheard by two other guys not involved, why would they not confront him or report him? Most normal human being would not sit idly by if they heard of such a plot. Certainly not a soldier.
6th: If it happened at 5:30 pm as alleged, then it happened in broad daylight. Kinda of stupid, I would think.
7th: If shots could be heard coming out of that house, there were no Iraqis or other soldiers that would have responded?
8th: Why did it take a June 20th debriefing to bring it to the attention of Military brass? Wouldn't the relatives and townsfolk who knew these people be screaming bloody murder at the top of their lungs, or did they also suspect it was sectarian violence.
9th: How safe was that town at the time for troops to be going off in a group of 4 with only one in uniform? Sounded like one of the hottest of hotbeads for insurgents.
10th: How many soldiers were left at the "nearby" checkpoint at rush hour who may have been suspicious of such activity?
Just lotsa questions.
Aren't soldiers supposed to be in radio contact with their immediate superiors at all times, who should be aware of their whereabouts and activities at all times? And are they not strictly following orders at all times when outside the wire?
I contend this group of 4 (or 5) soldiers would not have had the freedom to commit these alleged deeds.
And I believe, even in a squad, there is a designated leader. That was not the PFC's position, so he could not convince a superior to go along with his alleged plan.