The MTCs would be light enough and small enough to fit into an Osprey. The MTC prime mover would have enough power to transport a JAG element and powerpoint would be integral to the vehicle. The MTC must also be able to pull a trailer of up to 6,000 lbs of legal briefs and memos or a fatassed judge. Unit cost might get under what we’re paying for Growlers.

Instead of supporting fires or air, ground units in contact would be required to call for legal support. The MTC would come in by Osprey or helo, and convene. MTC would also provide attorneys for enemy fighters who did not deploy with any.

Once all combatants’ legal statuses were determined to the satisfaction of the court, and all non-combatants within 35km of the battlefield were pre-emptiveley compensated for losses, the matter would be referred to the theater commander for permission to resume the battle.

If this account by the reporter is BS, then it will help no one but the bad guys.

Overall, as an observer I remain concerned that increasingly-restrictive ROE is going to A) hurt our ability to take the fight to the enemy and B) cause more US/allied casualties than otherwise.

And, long term, I am concerned that A plus B will equal C) lessened support for the campaign with the public, which could lead to defeat.

The problem with the account is that the patrol in question did receive supporting fires, from both 120mm mortars and 155mm guns, and I believe OH-58Ds as well. There were numerous things that went wrong – there were serious comms issues do to the terrain, which prevented the patrol from talking directly back to their base, having instead to relay through a scout team on high ground, and the supporting QRF couldn’t get to them due to a vehicle rollover en route.

But saying they didn’t get fire support, from everything I’ve seen – and I was in the room when MG Scaparrotti said it to GEN McChrystal – is false.

A courageous German Colonel called in arty and he paid the price for it!

Those Air Force (Br)asshats can’t seem to get their sh** straight anymore.

John T. Reed noted some similar problems in the Afghan ROE as well, and describes them better than I can;
http://www.johntreed.com/Afghanrules.html