I'm not a fan of the AR-15 family of rifles, but this "report" looks like a bunch of Bravo Sierra to me.
It's another bit of BOGINT -- some guy with an agenda (in this case bring back the M-14) dressing his prejudices up as a "report from the field" to try to get what he wants by getting the pols to pressure the military.
I don't think US systems are perfect but compare what CSM Frank Grippe said his guys were doing with the M4 to that anonymous email... (the Grippe interview is in the archives at defenselink.mil, look for op anaconda stuff).
d.o.l.
Criminal Number 18F