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May 13, 2005
Drop The Charges!
If you haven't seen this, its from the Washington Post:
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."
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 15, 2004 shooting.
Yup, good news and its about time.
"The government was not able to produce credible evidence or testimony that the killings were premeditated," Col. Winn wrote in his May 12 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.
Coburn, who was Pantano’s chief accuser, said "I don’t remember" or "I don’t recall" more than 50 times during his testimony in the pretrial hearing at Camp Lejeune. 50 times.
Throughout his testimony Saturday, there were times Coburn couldn’t recall some details about the shooting that took place April 15, 2004, in Mahmudiyah, Iraq. At times, he couldn’t remember what he did just a few days ago.
Yup. Coburn doesm't remember the shooting and it appears from his testimony that he doesn't remember any battle either.
When questioned about the amount of firefight going on in Iraq in April 2004, Coburn’s testimony differed from all the Marines who testified for both the prosecution and defense. They all described a several-hour ambush on April 11, 2004, and an increase in car bombs and other explosive devices during that time.
"I don’t think it was bad," Coburn said when he was asked about it.
If you want to know all about Coburn, head over to Cao's Blog, she sums up the little gnat very well over here.
There is no doubt in my mind or my heart that Coburn is pathetic little gnat with delusions of grandeur and a rather large chip on his shoulder. He has taken a grudge, and a resentment, and turned it into a murder charge.
There is no doubt in my mind or my heart, or my conscience that Marine Second Lieutenant Ilario Pantano was right to do what he did. His life was indeed in danger, his men were in danger, his mission was in danger.
Marine Second Lieutenant Ilario Pantano is many things. An American. A Marine. A husband. A son. A father. A hero.
One thing Marine Second Lieutenant Ilario Pantano is not. He is not a criminal.
Hopefully, Maj. Gen. Richard Huck will accept Col. Winn's recommendation that all criminal charges be dropped, including murder and destruction of the Iraqis' vehicle. Hopefully, Maj. Gen. Huck will also find that there is no reason for any administration punishment for firing too many rounds at the two terrorists.
One last thing... please Defend The Defenders.
Support the Troops.
Semper Fi!
Posted by LindaSoG at May 13, 2005 08:46 PM