Posted on 04/27/2005 9:11:37 AM PDT by Former Military Chick
- A Marine testified that a fellow soldier accused of killing two Iraqis left a sign near their bodies bearing an "inappropriate" Marine slogan.
Second Lt. Ilario Pantano, 33, has admitted to shooting the men during an April 2004 search in Mahmudiyah, Iraq. He has claimed the slayings were in self-defense.
Fellow Marines testified Tuesday that Pantano shot the men in the back and put a sign near the bodies bearing a Marine slogan: "No better friend, no worse enemy."
First Lt. Samuel Cunningham testified that after being told of the sign, he told Pantano to remove it, then called to have the bodies taken away by Iraqi National Guardsmen.
"I was surprised," Cunningham said of the sign. "I told him it was inappropriate. ... It's just unprofessional." Cunningham called it "a death card."
Testimony was to continue Wednesday in the Article 32 hearing. The case has stirred debate on whether troops should be second-guessed for split-second decisions made in combat.
In the incident, Pantano's unit was ordered to search a house in Mahmudiyah, and stopped Hamaady Kareem and Tahah Ahmead Hanjil as they tried to leave a residence suspected of being a terrorist hideout.
According to written charges, Pantano ordered other troops to remove the suspects' handcuffs and look away, then shot the pair in the back, vandalized their vehicle and hung the sign.
A second Marine, identified only as "Corporal O" and described as a cook working to be an Arabic linguist, said the men were scared and claimed to be visiting family in the residence.
In a statement, Pantano has told investigators the Iraqis had their backs to him and continued talking to each other despite warnings to be quiet.
"After another time of telling them to be quiet, they quickly pivoted their bodies toward each other. They did this simultaneously, while speaking in muffled Arabic. I thought they were attacking me and I decided to fire my M-16A4 service rifle in self-defense," the statement said.
"Corporal O" testified he was inside the house talking with women and children when the shooting occurred. He said they confirmed the men's story that they were visiting relatives, though on cross-examination he said it was common for Iraqis to deny involvement with the insurgency.
After the hearing, Maj. Mark E. Winn will make a recommendation to the commanding general of the 2nd Marine Division about whether there is enough evidence for a court-martial. The general will then determine whether to proceed to trial or modify the charges.
"I was surprised," Lt. Cunningham said, using "death card" to describe the sign. "I told him it was inappropriate. ... It's just unprofessional."
A second Marine - identified only as "Corporal O" - later testified that he helped interrogate the two Iraqi men who had been stopped as they tried to leave a home suspected of being a terrorist hide-out."Corporal O," described as a cook working to be an Arabic linguist, said the men were scared and claimed to be visiting family in the residence. After the shooting, he testified, the men "looked like they were on their knees. They were shot in the backs."
Beloved sent this article to me just a bit ago, he highlighted the above in red and said the following " Most damning evidence I've heard yet against Pantano. Still not much. The Corporal is not a forensics expert. Seems to confirm the stuff about the sign, though.."
Never good to disagree with beloveds nature! :)
Semper inappropriate !
There is nothing inappropriate about this. It is simply a statement of fact.
Oh, okay. Let's rewind to WWII. Are you saying that hanging a sign on a dead partisan saying "I shot a German soldier and have paid the price" is also appropriate?
If every Marine who left a "death card" or "sign" on the enemy after an ambush or firefight before leaving the area - were arrested, Leavenworth's Military Prison would be overcrowded.
I have NO PROBLEM with the sign, if the kill was justified.
Lt. Pantano's Article 32 hearing is focused on Unjustifed, premeditated murder --- not un-PC behavior.
What remains to be learned- was the kill justified..
So far - doesn't look too good for Lt. Pantano..
But we've only heard the witnesses for the Prosecution so far.
Have NO DOUBT, that the Marine Corps will come to the CORRECT judgement... NO DOUBT.
There is too much at risk.
Semper Fi
But -- beheading on TV, wiring charred bodies to bridges, targeting women and children, bombing houses of worship full of the wrong religion -- GOOD...
War is a nightmare, for those living it..
We need to stay focused on winning......not playing fair.
The ONLY fair fight, is when your enemy has no chance of winning..
The folks who insist on fighting a "sensitive, compassionate, PC correct" war - should go or send THEIR kids to fight it, not mine.
Semper Fi
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