posted on May, 27 2005 @ 12:23 PM
This is the latest joke in a series of administration attempts to live up to international legal standards and save face finding an easy exit in the
unfortunate "war on terror" hoax.
CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (AP) - A Marine Corps general dismissed murder and other charges Thursday against a lieutenant accused of killing two Iraqis
without justification, the military said.
The decision by Maj. Gen. Richard Huck, commander of the 2nd Marine Division, ends the prosecution of 2nd Lt. Ilario Pantano, a former Wall Street
trader who rejoined the Marines after the Sept. 11 attacks.
"The best interests of 2nd Lt. Pantano and the government have been served by this process," the Marine Corps said in a statement.
Pantano had been accused of premeditated murder for what prosecutors maintained was the unjustified killing of two suspected insurgents in 2004 near
Mahmudiyah, Iraq.
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.
Pantano contended he acted in self-defense after the men disobeyed his instructions and made a menacing move toward him.
An investigating officer had concluded in a report to Huck that murder charges should be dropped against Pantano.
ap.tbo.com...