Is the Marine Corps P.C.?

JWR ^ | 2-25-05 | Mona Charen

[FlyLow]

Second Lt. Ilario Pantano was making a six-figure income as an energy trader with Goldman Sachs in New York when the World Trade Center was attacked. Pantano had friends who worked in the twin towers and friends among the firefighters who perished trying to save them.

This Marine veteran, who had already served his country in the first Gulf War, set aside his career (which also included work in film and television), kissed his wife and two children goodbye, and headed to Quantico, Va., for officer training school.

A Marine Corps colleague asked, "How many guys do you know (who) would drop 100 grand a year to go sleep in fighting holes in the nasty mud and dust for — what — 25 grand a year?"

There are a few — and the rest of us owe them more than we can possibly express — which is why it is shocking to learn that Pantano may now be facing murder charges.

In April 2004, American and Iraqi troops were under constant terrorist attack in the Sunni Triangle. Hundreds were being killed and wounded. Weapons of choice for the insurgents included roadside bombs, booby-trapped vehicles and animals, combatants disguised as women and suicide attackers feigning surrender before blowing themselves up.

[kellynla]

The few and the proud...

Semper Fi,
Kelly

[Spktyr]

The "street rules" are the same everywhere - if a cop or soldier holding a gun tells you to STOP, you STOP. If you don't, well, you get what you deserve. No sympathy for idiots who were clearly told in their own language to stop and didn't.

[ericthecurdog]

"...But good Lord, by what possible standard can this be called murder?"

Amen.

[stm]

I would have done the very exact same thing. Our ROE stipulated that we were authorized the use of deadly force to defend ourselves. If 2LT Pantano felt his life was in danger, and who wouldn't were they being rushed by two people in that situation, he had every right to waste them.

Let's hope this BS gets tossed. If not it sets another very bad precedent

[OK]

Since the good Lt. was charged by a fellow Marine witness on the scene, the Marines had to make an investigation. I will give the investigators the benefit of the doubt until we see where this goes. Perhaps the radioman who made the charges will end up in the slammer instead of the Lt.?

[Moatengator83Herd]

The Corps may be under pressure to go through the numbers with the accusation from the "boot". That pressure may also be from different arenas than one would think. They also want to show the world that they (USMC) can police their own issues. I hope it is an open and shut case of self defense. Investigating and deeming it a righteous shoot is better than not investigating it and having the media use it for their slow days news.

[Restorer]

Thank you.

It is nice to have someone who recognizes that such issues do need to be thoroughly investigated.

The devil is entirely in the details in this situation.

[American Quilter]

>> They also want to show the world that they (USMC) can police their own issues. I hope it is an open and shut case of self defense. Investigating and deeming it a righteous shoot is better than not investigating it and having the media use it for their slow days news. <<

That's a heartening view. I hope he's acquitted and then awarded a medal for valor.

[mortal19440]

I trust the Corp to do the right thing. They have resisted PC more than any other service. This old squid hasn't seen the Marines start eating their own, I hope it doesn't start now.

[newsgatherer]

bump for weekend edition