I agree with you, SASless (despite what Westie might think).
The cover up (if there was one) cannot be condoned. But, perhaps it was trouble making TV journos and selective interviewing, I did find the remarks made by the locals near Camp Pendelton very disturbing. They gave the interviewer the impression that whatever the squad did, it must have been acceptable....because they were Marines.
The Marines they interviewed bore no resemblance to the folk who helped us out so well at MCAS El Toro many years ago.