This article is not worth the paper that it was printed on. It doesn’t tell us very much and largely confuses the issues.
Firstly, LTG Kearney’s actions were operational decisions. They don’t shed any information, good or bad, on any possible criminal charges that might arise from this incident. I think that its fair to say that he didn’t have confidence in the leadership of this company, but that does not tell us anything about any potential criminal behavior.
COL Nicholson, who is one of the straightest shooters I have ever known, was just lamenting the loss of civilian life. He was not part of the operational chain of command, and is certainly not part of the legal chain of command.
Mark Waple, whom I have known since high school over 40 years ago, cannot be relied upon for the time of day. He’s made his living as a military ambulance chaser. Whomever retained him as a defense attorney made a monumental mistake.
The Court of Inquiry and any subsequent courts martial, if warranted, are firmly in the hands of the Marine Corps. I hope that they consider the evidence fairly and in light of the circumstances of deadly combat that these men found themselves.
Nothing that I have read has led me to a conclusion. I don’t think that anyone who was not there knows what happened and leaping to conclusions based on press reports or statements from third rate attorneys is folly.
Keeping tabs ping.
I had the chance to work a bit for Col Nicholson at Jalalabad. What struck me was how much his men respected him...and my few interactions with him indicated it was justified.
The Army started an investigation, but the Marines weren’t happy with it. I’ll be very interested in what this investigation finds. For myself, I don’t see how shooting repeatedly for miles can be justified...if it was, then it was the only miles-wide ambush ever staged on this road.