Good article. Sounds like a hearts and minds COIN enthusiast commander is screwing a good officer. The commander dithered for 50 minutes, asking about civilians in the area, etc. Then dropped the 500 pounder in lieu of precision hellfires that were available. Then the fight went in for for more hours with no more fire support for recon.
The remark about sacrificing marines for the greater good was made to the major the next day. And it was when he was explaining why he was so overly hesitant to approve fire support. That he was willing to kill marines to save a few Afghan civilians.
Just a guess, but hellfire helos probably had to depart for fuel while he dithers for 50 min. By the time he decided to actually support the men, a 500 pounder was probably his only option. So yes, the commander did needlessly endanger them.