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Exonerated officer quits Marine Corps
The Washington Times Insider ^ | June 4, 2005 | Rowan Scarborough

Posted on 06/04/2005 3:10:26 AM PDT by Banjoguy

Second Lt. Ilario Pantano announced his resignation from the Marine Corps yesterday, a week after he was cleared of charges of murdering two Iraqi insurgents in the "triangle of death" south of Baghdad. [....]

[....]Lt. Pantano is giving up a commission that had become one of the many symbols of patriotic duty in America. The Corps does not usually accept 31-year-old officer candidates, but the Manhattan native was determined to rejoin the Corps after al Qaeda's September 11 attacks. He talked his way back in, excelled at infantry training and won command of a 35-man platoon that went to Iraq last year. Lt. Pantano had served as a Marine enlisted man in the 1991 Gulf war. The Corps had charged Lt. Pantano with two counts of murder that could have brought the death penalty if convicted at a court-martial. He told investigators he shot the two Iraqi men in self-defense after a raid on an insurgent hide-out. [....]

(Excerpt) Read more at insider.washingtontimes.com ...


TOPICS: Government; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: exonerated; marine; pantano; shooting
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..seems we lost a good one here. Ex squad Ldr Sgt Coburn should be taken to task for his version of what happened..he really did not see anything.
1 posted on 06/04/2005 3:10:27 AM PDT by Banjoguy
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To: Banjoguy

A complete disgrace, this entire episode. The leftist media continues its quest to destroy our military and the quislings in the Pentagon enable them.

At least this man's mom will be happy to have him home. She fought like hell for her son's honor.

And, since when does the Wash Times require registration?


2 posted on 06/04/2005 3:14:07 AM PDT by jocon307
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To: Banjoguy
..seems we lost a good one here.

Agreed.

3 posted on 06/04/2005 3:16:51 AM PDT by Jet Jaguar
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To: jocon307
...since when does the Wash Times require registration?

Only the "Insider Edition" feature does. The rest is open to anyone at any time. I like it and use the RSS version.

...I agree with the remainder of your comment.

4 posted on 06/04/2005 3:19:33 AM PDT by Banjoguy (Don't be brain dead.)
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To: Banjoguy
Second Lt. Ilario Pantano announced his resignation from the Marine Corps yesterday...

America and the Corps lost a true WARRIOR and leader of men.

5 posted on 06/04/2005 3:27:21 AM PDT by CrawDaddyCA (There is no such thing as a fair fight. Thou shall win at all costs!!)
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To: Banjoguy

Bound to happen when we insist our guys fight a PC war.

It's America's loss and I thank this Marine for his service.


6 posted on 06/04/2005 3:40:34 AM PDT by prairiebreeze (Does my American flag offend you? Dial 1-800-LEAVE THE USA!)
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To: Banjoguy
I disagree.

Sgt Coburn was correct in reporting what he believed happened. The Lieutenant in question emptied two magazines into the suspected insurgents and then left a sign on them - both indications of this Lieutenant's instability and potential wrongdoing.

Since when do you need to change magazines for a total of 60 shots when you are being "threatened" by two unarmed men? Two to four aimed shots would have done the trick just fine.

Since when do you empty your weapon in an area where you believe there may be additional enemy combatants nearby? Why didn't the Lieutenant use his NCOs to deal with the suspected insurgents?

Lt. Patano had a screw loose and did not serve as good example for his troops or for us.

Don't bother with the "you can't know because you weren't there" junk: I have served in combat and for a lot longer than Lt. Patano.

7 posted on 06/04/2005 3:40:37 AM PDT by USMCVet
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To: CrawDaddyCA

What a loss!!!!!!!! If this had happened to our Naval Officer Son hell would have had no fury!!!!!!!!!


8 posted on 06/04/2005 3:41:33 AM PDT by Coldwater Creek ('We voted like we prayed")
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To: USMCVet

Maybe I spoke tot soon!!!!!!!


9 posted on 06/04/2005 3:42:48 AM PDT by Coldwater Creek ('We voted like we prayed")
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To: Banjoguy

We have indeed lost a good Marine here. However, considering what he's gone through, I'd say he's more than entitled to getting on with his life. I hope the anti-American MSM and the liberal lefties, eager to tell his story, shower him with money so deep he needs a truck to haul it all to the bank!


10 posted on 06/04/2005 3:51:13 AM PDT by BillyCrockett
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To: USMCVet
..did not know about any of this. I will research this further. I assumed the Wash. Times article was a good synopsis. They are usually pretty good about that. Thanks for your comment....very helpful.

"Don't bother with the "you can't know because you weren't there" junk:.....would not do that.

USMCVet, thanks for all you and others like you, have done for us.

11 posted on 06/04/2005 3:54:19 AM PDT by Banjoguy (Don't be brain dead.)
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To: Banjoguy
Ahhh...the MSM.

Destroying our military...one at a time.

If this keeps up we'll be just like the french.

12 posted on 06/04/2005 4:00:26 AM PDT by evad (No action to secure borders, No action on judges... NO MONEY!)
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To: USMCVet

Can you cite the source for this info? As always, it's best to know the whole story before an opinion is given. Also, what are the circumstances of his exoneration? From your account, I have a hard time finding grounds for his verdict.


13 posted on 06/04/2005 4:00:55 AM PDT by ovrtaxt (...a sheep in wolf's clothing)
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To: Banjoguy

I can just see the recruiters explaining this to a prospective recruit now .. .. ..


14 posted on 06/04/2005 4:03:11 AM PDT by lionheart 247365 (( Home of the FREE because of the Brave .. .. .. ))
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To: USMCVet
Interesting...source please.
Thanks, evad
15 posted on 06/04/2005 4:04:29 AM PDT by evad (No action to secure borders, No action on judges... NO MONEY!)
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To: USMCVet

If you're correct in your information, the Lieutenant probably was urged by higher ups to resign, even if the court martial exonerated him. Then again, it could have been a plea bargain: "Resign, and we'll drop the charges."


16 posted on 06/04/2005 4:10:34 AM PDT by ABG(anybody but Gore) (I don't hate anybody, except the French....)
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To: USMCVet
Instability?????...

Accepting your assertion of being a "combat veteran", I find it difficult to believe you would presume to diagnose someone with instability when you were not there.

17 posted on 06/04/2005 4:10:57 AM PDT by cynicom
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To: evad
Everything I metioned is available in open sources. From the Navy Times: "Prosecutors alleged Pantano intended to make an example of the men by shooting them 60 times and hanging a sign over their bodies — “No better friend, no worse enemy,” a Marine slogan. While citing self-defense as his motive, Pantano did not deny hanging the sign or shooting the men repeatedly."

These are not the actions of a stable leader and were a bad example for his troops.

18 posted on 06/04/2005 4:15:43 AM PDT by USMCVet
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To: cynicom
Only too happy to send you proof, Cynicom. Just let me know where.

With 24 years as a Marine officer, I'm reasonably well qualified to judge when a junior officer is acting in a manner that demonstrates instability.

What are your qualifications?

19 posted on 06/04/2005 4:18:10 AM PDT by USMCVet
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To: USMCVet

Thanks for the info, and thanks for your service to our coutry!!!!!!!!!!!!1


20 posted on 06/04/2005 4:22:30 AM PDT by Coldwater Creek ('We voted like we prayed")
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