Notably lacking in this revisionist history is an admission the government failed to disclose evidence Bales’ entire unit had been given mefloquine – a key fact supported by the “single piece” of critical affidavit evidence described here. https://www.military.com/daily-news/opinions/2020/12/08/i-prosecuted-robert-bales-he-should-never-receive-pardon-jay-morse.html

Bales was very likely poisoned by mefloquine in 2004 during his first Iraq tour. He likely suffered lasting psychiatric effects as a result including insomnia, paranoia and — importantly — persecutory delusions and hallucinations which motivated his actions the night in question.

Bales was hallucinating flashing lights being implausibly exchanged between the villages. These hallucinations directly motivated him to take action against what he perceived as an imminent threat. Yet his sanity board completely overlooked this clear evidence of psychosis.

Bales was motivated by paranoid, persecutory, delusional beliefs the villages in question were signaling an imminent attack. No one else in his unit perceived this threat, because only Bales saw these lights, and only Bales believed these had special, sinister significance.

June 5, 2013, Bales pleads guilty. Only weeks later, on July 29, following years of deliberation not disclosed to Bales' attorneys, the government warns that paranoia and symptoms of psychosis can last years after use of mefloquine. Bales was likely ordered to take it in 2004.