'engage all targets as the appear'
Saw the movie against last night for the first time in a few years and was wondering about a few plot holes as far as the crowd massacre. If the generic "It's just a movie" answer applies, so be it but I'd like to believe this isn't the case. I'll try to organize my thoughts in chunks. Forgive the length, but...here goes:
1. Why were the Marines NOT authorized to return fire on the snipers? I'm unfamiliar with the exact language in the rules of engagement, but isn't deadly force authorized as far as self-defense and defense of others goes if your being fired upon? Had the shooters of been better marksman, they could of killed alot more than just 3. -- I haven't served in combat so I'm not going to pretend to know anything other than what I see in the media and on films that are supposed to be taking themselves seriously.
2. This bit concerns the dialogue before the massacre. Later during the trial part of the movie, we are all led to believe only Childers saw the crowd had weapons, and that the other Marines were not only not aware, but said they didn't see a reason to fire into the crowd. (unless I missed something with that) --
Okay...now Childers' order is to "Engage all targets as they appear." The rest of the Marines are obviously aware of the snipers being hostile targets. The captain replies about "women and children being in his line of fire." Unless I have my facts and geometry wrong...all of the snipers (targets) shown were on overwatch positions above the crowd; I didn't see them using women and children as human shields. Why would the captain ask if he was being ordered to fire into the crowd if the only targets he knew about were the snipers?
3. When the order to fire is given, the Marines engaged the crowd only. Everyone in the crowd was shooting up the building, but no one was dropping any weapons when they were hit. I would of thought ONE of the Marines would have seen muzzle flashes from the crowd or remembered seeing them otherwise holding or dropping weapons.
I'll leave it at that. I'm not being a troll, and I enjoyed the movie, but the captain words saying women and "children were in the line of fire", and asking if he was to "fire into the crowd" would suggest the Captain knew the crowd had shooters in it. I know, I know...its just a movie, right?
The point of me posting this was to see if I may of missed something. Thanks