[Brian Mosely]

URGENT
Corps drops charges against lieutenant accused of murder
Eds: ADDS background, detail
CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (AP) — A Marine Corps general dismissed all charges Thursday against a lieutenant accused of the murder of two Iraqis, the military announced.
The decision of Maj. Gen. Richard Huck, commander of the 2nd Marine Division, ends the prosecution 2nd Lt. Ilario Pantano.
“The best interests of 2nd Lt. Pantano and the government have been served by this process,” the Marine Corps said in a statement.
Military officials accused Pantano of premeditated murder for what they maintain was the unjustified killing of two suspected Iraqi insurgents in 2004, near Mahmudiyah.
Prosecutors alleged Pantano intended to make an example of the two detainees by shooting them 60 times and hanging a sign over their bodies — “No better friend, no worse enemy,” a Marine slogan.
Pantano contended he acted in self-defense.
An investigating officer concluded in a report to Huck that murder charges should be dropped against Pantano, a former Wall Street trader who rejoined the Marines after the Sept. 11 attacks.

[clintonh8r]

Damn right!

Semper fidelis!

[GVnana]

Bump.

[DTogo]

Now he deserves two medals:

1. For killing theses two Islamo-fascist bastards

2. For putting up with being charged for it

[jackbill]

It will be interesting to see what happens to him now. Will he stay in (be allowed to stay in)? Or will he tell the Corps to shove it?

[ctlpdad]

HooRAH!

[piperpilot]

That is absolutely fabulous news!

[Hegemony Cricket]

Suh-WEET!

[kellynla]

EXCELLENT NEWS!

Thank you for posting.

Thank God. Our prayers have been answered.

Semper Fi,
Kelly

[#1CTYankee]

Excellent, now just get the reporters out of there.

[b4its2late]

Sweet.

[EternalVigilance]

This is very good news indeed.

[LegendHasIt]

Great to hear!

Should never have been prosecuted.

[aculeus]

Great news!

[dentisto]

Now that he has been PERSECUTED for months where does Lt. Pantano go to restore his reputation and rebuild his career.

Semper Fi.

[joesbucks]

Who was they guy here earlier in the year that said that WND was on a PR campaign on this guy, that anyone who disagreed with him were pukes and on and on and on. Also, the MArines never make a move like this unless the case is airtight. Someone needs to alert him and let him know what a know nothing puke he is.

[A.A. Cunningham]

Major General Richard A. Huck Commanding General, 2d Marine Division
Major General Richard A. Huck is the Commanding General, 2d Marine Division. He was promoted to Major General in December 2003 and was assigned his current duties November 10th 2004. He is a 1971 graduate of Kent State University and was commissioned through the Platoon Leaders Course the same year. Assigned to the 3d Battalion, 2d Marines, Major General Huck served as Platoon Commander, Executive Officer and Commanding Officer, Company K and Executive Officer, Headquarters and Service Company. Ordered to Okinawa in 1975, he joined 2d Battalion, 4th Marines and assumed duties as Executive Officer and Commanding Officer, Company H and later the Battalion Assistant S-3. Other company grade assignments include Instructor and Staff Platoon Commander, The Basic School; S-3, Headquarters and Service Battalion; and Executive Officer, Company D, Marine Security Guard Battalion, Republic of Panama. Major General Huck returned to the FMF in 1982 and was assigned to the 2d Marine Division. He served as Executive Officer, 2d Battalion, 6th Marines; Operations Officer, 28th Marine Amphibious Unit; and S-3, 6th Marines. Assigned to Headquarters Marine Corps, he performed duties as the Plans Officer, Officer Assignment Branch and later as the General Officer Matters Officer, Personnel Management Division. In 1990, Major General Huck was ordered to an air-ground exchange tour with the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing where he served as the Deputy Assistant Chief of Staff, G-3. In 1991, Major General Huck again returned to the 2d Marine Division and assumed command of 1st Battalion, 6th Marines. He was reassigned in July 1993 as Commanding Officer, 6th Marine Regiment until his relief in June 1995. Joint duty followed with orders to Stuttgart, Germany and assignment as the Deputy Chief of Staff, United States European Command. In 1997, he assumed duties as Military Assistant to the Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps. In 1999, Major General Huck assumed duties as the Assistant Division Commander, 2d Marine Division through June 2001. He then became the Chief of Staff, United States Southern Command until July 2003. In 2003 Major General Huck was assigned as the Director, Personnel Management Division, Manpower and Reserve Affairs, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps. Major General Huck is a graduate of the Amphibious Warfare School, the Australian Army Command and Staff College and the National War College. He is a Joint Specialty Officer. His personal decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal and the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal.

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[Robert DeLong]

Good deal.

[alpha-8-25-02]

Semper fidelis!

Godspeed!

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

Excellent. Now they should prosecute the scumbag who made the scurrilous allegations.