Title: US military identifies all four 'urinating' Marines Source:
BBC URL Source:http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-16552649 Published:Jan 14, 2012 Author:staff Post Date:2012-01-14 11:14:28 by buckeroo Keywords:None Views:1955 Comments:8
All four US Marines seen in a video apparently urinating on dead Afghans have been identified by American military investigators, US media say.
Two of the men have already been interviewed by the US Navy's criminal investigation branch.
The Marine Corps has also appointed Lt Gen Thomas Waldhauser, a three-star general, to decide what, if any, disciplinary action is to be taken.
It is understood the troops served in Helmand province, Afghanistan.
US media reported that the unit belonged to the 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, but that two of the men and the battalion's commander had moved on to other assignments before the video became public.
The names of the men, who are thought to be Marine snipers, have not been released.
The battalion has had a range of deployments, including Iraq, Afghanistan, Guantanamo Bay and fighting wildfires in the US state of Idaho.
Marine General John Allen, the top US and Nato commander in Afghanistan, called for the facts of the case to be established quickly.
He said: "These actions are in direct opposition to everything the military stands for. Such acts in no way reflect the high moral standards and values we expect of our armed forces on a daily basis."
'Savage act' Lt Gen Waldhauser will appoint another officer to lead the Marine Corps' internal investigation into the incident.
In addition, the Naval Criminal Investigative Service is undertaking its own probe of the matter.
Lt Gen Waldhauser is responsible for deciding on the course of action after both investigations have been completed.
Correspondents say that, if authentic, the actions in the video could amount to a violation of the First Geneva Convention, which calls for the dead to be treated with dignity.
It could also constitute a breach of the US Uniform Code of Military Justice, for discrediting the armed forces.
The video, which was posted online, appears to show the troops standing over the bodies of several Afghans, at least one of whom is covered in blood.
A man's voice is heard saying: "Have a great day, buddy."
The clip has been called "disgusting" and "inhuman" by both US and Afghan officials.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton expressed her "dismay" at the images, while Afghan President Hamid Karzai requested the "most severe punishment" for those responsible.
In an address to military personnel at Fort Bliss, Texas, on Thursday, US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta said the video could even jeopardise the prospects for US-Afghan peace talks.
The Taliban have indicated that while they condemn the video, its release would not affect the political process.
Fears that widespread outrage in Afghanistan would boil over into protests immediately after Friday prayers proved unfounded.
But one Kabul resident, 20-year-old construction worker Waheedullah, who like many Afghans uses only one name, told AFP news agency: "This is an absolutely savage act and condemnable in any religion."
It is not clear who released the footage, which first appeared on YouTube and has not been verified.
The US has about 20,000 Marines in Afghanistan, based mostly in the provinces of Kandahar and Helmand. In total, about 90,000 US troops are on the ground in Afghanistan.
Anyone remember the military helicopter hovering over civilians from Assange's website? The famous "battle" wherein US troops laffed while mowing down little children? Well, nothing happened to them. And nothing shall happen to these "battle weary" US soldiers, either.
I'm happy today because of your own "dismay." May you change your monicker to "Dismayed Quanzaa" ASAP?
You don't seem to understand a serious issue that these "troops" represent. In this case, they violated international law but there is much more. The ramifications of America (itself) when these "battle weary" soldiers sign up for their local cop job and become a SWAT specialist (or a GMAN) because of the their own backgrounds in these wars all over the planet clearly shows they are not fit for duty in America other than cleaning a latrine. And, since Afghanistan have you noticed increasing violence by all US COPS against American civilians? For you, probably not because you are too interested in being a slimy scumbucket sucking up to the GOP, just like these "troops."
There is no point debating the issue with this clown. HQ is amoral and incapible of following any rule in forum, so naturally this Nazi fuck is sociopathic in respnse to ths serious matter.
These Marines endangered the lives of all other U.S. Servicemen and women and made life in general more dangerous for any American travelling overseas.
The responsibilities to obey the rules of engagement are deep and require a commitment in a profound way to all rules of engagement.
They found a way to seem cheap, barbaric and inconsiderate to all standards of decent human conduct.
They need to see the inside of a courtroon in a General Court Martial for this.
HQ is amoral and incapible of following any rule in forum, so naturally this Nazi fuck is sociopathic in respnse to ths serious matter.
Exactly. Already in Afghanistan, Iraq and Pakistan there are reports of potential reprisal from many otherwise peaceful folks concerning US military over reach; this sick incident is just one more on a pile of other well-known incidents, too.
I was fascinated by Pakistan's response that I found elsewhere; I shall recap: "American interventionism must come to a complete end." It is interesting to me as they are also growing tired of these grotesque shenanigans.
What is interesting to me is although we are shown a candid video of the "troops" pissin' away on the dead, we don't know how the dead were murdered by the same "troops."
There is no point debating the issue with this clown. HQ is amoral and incapible of following any rule in forum, so naturally this Nazi fuck is sociopathic in respnse to ths serious matter.
These Marines endangered the lives of all other U.S. Servicemen and women and made life in general more dangerous for any American travelling overseas.
The responsibilities to obey the rules of engagement are deep and require a commitment in a profound way to all rules of engagement.
They found a way to seem cheap, barbaric and inconsiderate to all standards of decent human conduct.
They need to see the inside of a courtroon in a General Court Martial for this
The US is not HQ's primary area of concern. Plus most strict libertarians seem rather similiar to sociopathic predators.
Almost every country in the Middle East is awash in oil, and we have to side with the one that has nothing but joos. Goddamn, that was good thinkin'. Esso posted on 2012-01-13 7:37:56 ET
I agree that the most rabid of libertarians lack some basic human empathy and balance in the persuit of an economic anarchy that ironically reminds me of my most sociopathic voluntary extinction anarchis friends I have here in Eugene.
This just shows we all need a good, solid weave of social checks and balances of power sinular to that which is an inspired part of the Constitution with it's checks and balances of power.
Libertarians have insight that behooves all to listen to and pay attention too.
But so is true these libertarians need help from others to keep them from going lemminglike off the deep end and metaphorically diving into the sea to drown in the unchecked pursuit of them in an absolutely unmoderated way.