How many VBIED ambushes have been thwarted by the helicopters? Weren't they on patrol that day?
Why wasn't the VBIED bomber intimidated by their close proximity?
Does the FOB span the entire 7 miles?
Do the official reports you have read indicate the Marines were engaged continuously along the entire 7 mile stretch, or sporadically?
The way you are presenting this indicates the Marines gave a picture of insurgents lined up elbow to elbow for 7 straight miles, while you're painting a picture of an FOB of similar length, and every inch of the road being under constant surveillance.
You say there would be "no reason" to put together an ambush, as it's "uncomfortably close" to the FOB. Was this meant tongue in cheek? Obviously, the insurgents aren't playing by that book.
I have not denied a VBIED attack - no one has. I have said there MAY have been an ambush of some sort at the VBIED site, although I doubt it - if so, it would be the only one done in that area. The question is what happened on the return to the FOB, since the Marines continued to shoot and kill people the entire distance. There is no physical evidence that they were under attack the entire distance. The people doing the shooting claimed they were, but others disagreed - including Americans.
There have been no ambushes next to the FOB Fenty, nor any ambushes that I heard about anywhere along the highway. IED attacks, yes. Ambushes, no. They are not the same thing.
The FOB border extends along the road for perhaps 1.5 miles...I never measured it.
A VBIED has no need to worry about a helicopter - it is a one shot bomb (often suicidal), not a sustained attack.
Please also note that even the General in the article made no attempt to defend what happened on the drive back to the FOB.