(AP Photo/Sara D. Davis, File)(commentary purposes only)
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The Marine Corps dropped murder charges Thursday against U.S. Marine Second Lt. Ilario Pantano who was accused of riddling two Iraqis with bullets and hanging a warning sign on their corpses as a grisly example to other suspected insurgents.
I've been following this case for months and it sounded incredibly ridiculous to bring charges. Talk about continually "shooting ourselves in the foot." The young officer was outstanding by anybody's standards. He was a Marine. Sempi Fi.
The incident would have gone by the board as an act of war but for what many believed was a disgruntled young Marine that had been in the Lieutenant's platoon and had been relieved.
| "The ruling demonstrates that Ilario acted honorably in combat and the suggestion that he didn't that tarnished his reputation was unjustified," "I'm pleased for Ilario and his family because the nightmare is over." Charles Gittins, Pantano's civilian lawyer
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All the evidence on the scene plus witnesses contradict the young accuser. Plus, I think it was a little easier to drop the charges since the Lieutenant's Mother had mounted a campaign on behalf of her son that involved the media, Congress, and former Marines.
Remarkable how conciliatory the military can become in light of pressure. The young Lieutenant is reported wanting to return to duty. Someone needs to counsel this young troop with the reality of modern war. He's dodged a bullet, why push it. Get on back to Wall Street and lobby for an AllServe military.
Thanks KT
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