(Via WorldNet Daily)
Marine’s charges set ‘terrible precedent’
Second Lieutenant Ilario G. Pantano was charged with premeditated murder in connection with the April 15, 2004, shooting incident of two Iraqis. This is after the incident was investigated and the LT cleared of any wrong-doing.
The platoon lead by Lt. Pantano was clearing houses south of Baghdad when they found a cache of bomb-making materials. Two men tried to flee in a truck. The tires were shot out and the men apprehended. After being ordered to pull the interior of their truck out so the Marines could see if there were explosives or boobytraps inside, then men moved as if to attack. Predictably, they were shot and killed.
There was an investigation, and Lt. Pantano was cleared of wrong-doing. However, Maj. Gen. Richard Huck, commanding general of the 2nd Marine Division, inexplicably convened another investigation, which has lead to the murder charges. I don’t know the circumstances, but it smells political to me.
Lt. Pantano’s mother has started a website, Defend The Defenders, to publicize her son’s problem and raise money for his defense. Check it out and do what you can.
Time to say it again:
“But if we find we have left our bones to bleach in these desert sands for nothing, beware the fury of the legions….” (A Roman Centurion in a letter home from North Africa, 3rd Century)