You might be wrong on a couple of points. From http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/10/AR2006061001129_pf.html
“The Marines had not stopped to assess the results of their actions is House 1 and had no knowledge they had killed non-combatants. Their entry into House 2 was under the same assessment that they were pursuing insurgents who had participated in the ambush.”
Wuterich’s lawyer said that they did have time to assess non-combatants were killed. Unless you found this elsewhere, it sounds like you’ve accidentally inserted these actions into the narrative.
From the Defend our Marines link:
“One of the Marines knocked or rang a bell at the door. As Yunis Salim Rasif approached the second door, LCpl Mendoza shot through the door and killed him.”
This is not in the entranceway, it is through a door, without positive identification. This sounds very strange, compared to the statements of what people said about going to House 2 – or in fact, what was done on House 1. Wouldn’t ringing a bell either alert hostiles that you were outside, or draw a civilian to the door?
