“It’s an unfortunate situation all around, including the terrorist’s fat lip because it was much less than he probably deserved. But the basic question you have to ask yourself is: Do you think it’s okay for soldiers to break regulations and fail to follow orders because they feel like it?”
The SEALs are not charged with disobeying an order, they are charged with hitting a terrorist. The next SEALs who find one (e.g. Osama bin Laden) are likely to just kill him to make sure there is only one story, so their careers won’t be ruined for doing their jobs. I won’t blame them if they do.
Which is disobeying regulations and orders (there are usually standing orders to back up regulations). I think it shows the prosecution's intent that they didn't pile on. I don't know of any real evidence, so hopefully this boils down to trusting who is telling the truth. Who do you think a jury full of servicemembers is going to believe?
The next SEALs who find one (e.g. Osama bin Laden) are likely to just kill him to make sure there is only one story, so their careers won’t be ruined for doing their jobs. I won’t blame them if they do.
I don't have a problem with that. If the military does, then they need to rethink some of their rules.