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| Iraq-Jordan |
| Marine faces capital charges |
| 2005-02-11 |
| I'm looking forward to the day when the Islamic holy warriors put their followers on trial for killing captured American soldiers. A Manhattan Marine is facing a possible death sentence after shooting two Iraqis fleeing a suspected terror hideout in the Sunni Triangle. Second Lt. Ilario Pantano, 33, has been charged with premeditated murder and with "numerous violations" of military law, the Marine Corps said. Pantano was commanding a platoon in April 2004, searching for a terrorist hideout and weapons, his mother, Merry Pantano, said. "Isn't it amazing?" she said. "He can face the death penalty for doing his job on the battlefield, making split-second decisions. "He said it was self-defense in the situation that he was in." Pantano has admitted shooting the two men as the fled the hideout, but his lawyer, Charles Gittins, said it wasn't murder. "Even if he's wrong, accidents happen in combat," Gittins said. "This was a very stressful situation. These two guys were bad guys. . . . He said, 'Stop' and they didn't, and he said it in Arabic." Gittins also said that Pantano was cleared by his commanders in a battlefield investigation of the incident. Pantano's mother said her son is a "wonderful person" who is "such a warrior." "I feel this is going to turn out OK," she said. "I'm so grateful my son is alive. I'm fortunate he came back in one piece." The Marines had no comment, except to say the investigatory hearing process had started. "There apparently was a disgruntled enlisted man involved," Gittins said. "The lieutenant reported it to his chain of command after it happened, and they investigated and said, 'Good to go.' Then three months, later a disgruntled enlisted man makes a complaint." Pantano will be the subject of an Article 32 hearing to determine whether he should face a court-martial. No date for the hearing has been set. Pantano is stationed at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina as he awaits his fate. His parents have launched a Web site — defendthedefenders.org — to publicize their son's plight. "This is something we can deal with," Merry Pantano said. " He's focused. He's doing everything he can to fight these charges." |
| Posted by:Zhang Fei |
| #13 This Marine showed the character traits that those of us in the military hope for and expect of those in command. He reported the incident to his Chain of Command and was cleared, he made a hard decision in a split second and then went to face the music. This is why he is getting the shaft. He could have done what Kerry did and put himself in for a medal. Once you have a medal for an incident it is very difficult to take it away. But he had moral strength and is honest. |
| Posted by: Angash Flalet3755 2005-02-11 8:17:54 PM |
| #12 Bobby, those were my thoughts. A Marine gets the works for shooting a wounded terrorist in a moaque. John Kerry gets the Silver Star for shooting a wounded VC. This Marine gets arrested for murder for shooting during a very tense situation. Go figure. |
| Posted by: Deacon Blues 2005-02-11 6:12:04 PM |
| #11 Alaska Paul- I had a cousin who was stationed on a base in the Aleutians in a clinic as a physical therapist. Interesting "climate incident" stories, that would freez ones b---s off if you get my drift. After that being stationed in Guam was better to her liking... Your Idea may have merit now that I think of it. |
| Posted by: BigEd 2005-02-11 5:37:42 PM |
| #10 If a violation is suspected, unlike civil society, the incident must be reported and acted upon. Under the UCMJ, Art. 78. Accessory after the fact Any person subject to this chapter who, knowing that an offense punishable by this chapter has been committed, receives, comforts, or assists the offender in order to hinder or prevent his apprehension, trial, or punishment shall be punished as a court-martial may direct. So once reported, the incident has to be investigated, ergo the Article 32 inquiry. [BTW, this is also the basis of the 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' policy. By law, the UCMJ, if you know you must tell.] |
| Posted by: Ebbavith Gleack2775 2005-02-11 5:02:02 PM |
| #9 Kerry is being punished by his marrige to Teresssssa. BTW:I was outa there by 1966.I think you are correct about Jimmy,however. |
| Posted by: crazyhorse 2005-02-11 4:39:43 PM |
| #8 crazyhorse - you were there when Lt. Kerry chased down the wounded VC and shot him? ;-> If this guy gets the shaft, should Kerry be brought up on charges? Oh, no.... That's right - Jimmy gave him amnesty. I sure hope Jimbo is right. My son is in Iraq right now. |
| Posted by: Bobby 2005-02-11 3:55:43 PM |
| #7 In some cases,the Marine corps conducts these proceedings to protect Marines from later civil action Bingo. |
| Posted by: true nuff 2005-02-11 3:54:15 PM |
| #6 BigEd---NE Alaska. If you want to put a guy in Alaska for punishment, have him do some kind of menial duty at Shema, on the end of the Aleutian Chain. I met the manager of the Shemya airport on a trip from Seattle to Anchorage. It is bleak weatherwise and scenerywise. |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2005-02-11 3:44:25 PM |
| #5 In some cases,the Marine corps conducts these proceedings to protect Marines from later civil action.Sounds cut a dried to me,if the story is true.He will get off,in that case.Seen similar actions in Nam in 1965. |
| Posted by: crazyhorse 2005-02-11 3:23:03 PM |
| #4 HAH, this is just the JAG going by the numbers, before they drop it. Aint no way this goes to a court martial. They will lose, and they must know that. |
| Posted by: Jimbo19 2005-02-11 2:54:55 PM |
| #3 2d Lt. Pantano seems to have gooten the misfortune of a troublemaker in his command. Return Pantano to duty, and transfer the troublemaker to Northeast Alaska. Assign him to prevent Caribou from invading over the Yukon border... |
| Posted by: BigEd 2005-02-11 2:42:17 PM |
| #2 Wow ! If it happened like the mother said, this marine is getting the true shaft. But, I will need to see more info before I have an opinion. But, if it is as told in the above post, I will be visiting defendthedefenders.org and trying to help out. |
| Posted by: Bill Clinton 2005-02-11 2:38:48 PM |
| #1 Clear him and return him to duty (facts permitting). The "enlisted man" should get his name known |
| Posted by: Frank G 2005-02-11 2:38:30 PM |