Marines picked Najaf fight without Pentagon's OK

"In recent interviews, the Marine officers said they turned a firefight with al-Sadr's forces on Aug. 5 into a eight-day pitched battle -- without the approval of the Pentagon or senior Iraqi officials."

www.informationclearinghouse.info...

So basically they acted on their own. Don't know much about US-Army but is this a disobey of orders and should/could be prosecuted?

[edit on 19-8-2004 by Samiralfey]

I'm not familiar with the rules of engagement but I am sure that the pentagon doesnt HAVE to approve many of the engagements that they come accross and it probably was OK'd by the top military brass stationed in Iraq. If the Pentagon folk didnt want them to be there, heads would roll and we'd probably never know about it. Not out of conspiracy but just cause thats their style.