Washington Times:

An investigating officer has recommended that the Marine Corps drop murder charges against 2nd Lt. Ilario Pantano, who shot to death two Iraqi insurgents a year ago during a raid on an insurgent hideout in the "Triangle of Death."

Let's pause right there, people. Just for one moment, if you please. Notice they say 'shot to death'. May I remind you that when Pantano 'shot to death' these two 'insurgents' they were refusing to obey his orders? May I also remind you that this 'shooting' occured in the 'Triangle of Death'?

The 16-page report from Lt. Col. Mark E. Winn castigates as unreliable the prosecution's chief witness, Sgt. Daniel L. Coburn, whom Lt. Pantano had removed as squad leader weeks before the April 14, 2004 shooting.

Yep, I'd say that makes him unreliable. Reminds me of the 7th-grade boys I had to reprimand yesterday for giving each other purple nurples.

"The government was not able to produce credible evidence or testimony that the killings were premeditated," Col. Winn wrote in his report, a copy of which was obtained today by The Washington Times.
"I think now [Sgt. Coburn] is in a position where he has told his story so many times, in so many versions that he cannot keep his facts straight anymore," Col. Winn wrote of the chief witness.
Col. Winn's decision follows a five-day pretrial hearing last month at Camp Lejeune, N.C., Lt. Pantano's home base. His role is to conduct the hearing and decide whether a court-martial is warranted.

Hopefully, Pantano will be cleared of these charges. Don't train Marines to defend themselves and their country unless you plan to have them kill.

Cross-posted at Descartes Bar and Grill

For those of you who haven't heard about Pantano, Michael Savage has a great page with more information here.

Pantano's family has set up their own website, Defend the Defenders.

H/T Michelle Malkin

Posted by: Suzanne at 01:44 PM | Comments (5) | Add Comment
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