I know! It's just shocking that the DoD would expect Marines to uphold a basic ethical standard, much less comply with the Geneva Conventions in regards to corpse desecration!

What's our military coming to when we prosecute soldiers for violating basic standards and committing crimes?

I can't even begin to say how hard it must be to fight a war, seeing as I never have. But, from an outsider's standpoint, I can say that it seems the second we start to lose our humanity and lose sight that those we fight are also humans, we become no better then they are.

Our Marine force is such, that we don't have to stoop to their level. Why would we want to?

it is very hard to point a weapon at a person and kill them. but if you dehumanize them you can kill them.

As a former Marine, these clowns disgraced the Corps with what they did and they are rightfully being punished.

Those in the military are held to high standards.

Those in the Marine Corps are held to even higher standards.

These clowns failed to uphold the standards of the Corps. It's that simple.

We do not act like 5 year olds with the 'but they do it too' or other excuses.

We show the world what America stands for - and we do NOT stand for mistreating our enemy dead (or prisoners).

Some folks seme to want want to justify how the enemy treats our prisoners and our dead by saying it's ok for us to do this kind of thing. These folks are Petty disgusting little twonks who don't care what AMERICA is supposed to stand for.

WWll soldiers were not punished for saying Jap. Everyone called them Japs during WWll, including the highest ranking officers. I know, I was alive then, my relatives fought the Japs.

So our standards are suppose to be higher. God Bless our Soldiers and thank you for serving our Country. At least they didn't do a Mai Lae Massacre. I would give them a job when they get back to the States if I were an Employer. I would trust them to have my Grandchildren under the direction. At least these men will most likely make it out alive. Sign me, A DISABLED VETERAN.

Mrbinky,Mrbinky,Mrbinky. Perhaps we should turn YOU over to the taliban? then YOU can apologize and tell us how it turns out?

Maybe that is the problem. Our standards are to high to fight this kind of war. Our soldiers standards are super high and I praise them and have the utmost respect for them. But maybe it is time to get down a dirty with the extremist (insert religious fanatic group name here). People only continue to get away with what we let them. The extremist (insert religious fanatic group name here) know that we will only go so far in war. This is what keeps them going. Time to demoralize the enemy. As for charges for peeing on a corpse please what about the arsehats(all political parties period) running this country I am sure they are guilty of some crime against the people.

Well said former Marine Sgt.

Maybe that is the problem. Our standards are to high to fight this kind of war. Our soldiers standards are super high and I praise them and have the utmost respect for them. But maybe it is time to get down a dirty with the extremist (insert religious fanatic group name here). People only continue to get away with what we let them. The extremist (insert religious fanatic group name here) know that we will only go so far in war. This is what keeps them going. Time to demoralize the enemy.

Exactly right. Ever since we've instituted this "politically correct" and "buy the enemy a Coke and sing him the lullaby Kumbya" garbage after World War 2, we've lost every single conflict. Notice a correlation here?

These marines are facing charges for daring to show the world that there is no such thing as a "clean" war. Pissing on them is wrong, but killing them is okay? How far is the PC crap going to go before people wake up and realize that war means that you kill the other guy before he kills you? There is zero way to humanely kill another person, that is all a fantasy to appease the masses. Heaven forbid people actually realize that war is anything but neat and pretty.

The public needs to see pictures like this daily until they get it through their head that there is no such thing as a clean war, and no such thing as a good war. They need to see pictures of missing arms that have just been blown off, missing legs, missing heads. Maybe that will finally wake people up to the point that they demand that their "leaders" actually stop the madness of war. Unless the public demands these leaders actually lead, we will always have leaders who find a reason to engage in war, and we will always have young adults showing the not too pleasant side of a war.

The power is in the hands of the citizens to make changes to stop all but defensive wars. Time to step up to our responsibility as adults and as citizens, and demand that there be no more wars unless they are of a defensive nature. Enough of wars because of fear, lies, hatred, and for natural resources.

FormerMarineSgt,

Too right. We had some Taliban/Anti-Coalition Forces/insurgents who crossed the border and got killed in the night while attacking us. Their comrades dragged the bodies off, but their was enough remaining of them to know that they didn't survive. These were parts of the same guys that had been attacking us only hours before, but we didn't "celebrate" with the guts etc. that were left behind. Photos taken were for the intel report showing the blood trails and what equipment they dropped. No personal cameras were recording this for You Tube or Facebook or whatever some units seem to "allow". We put it out to the local villagers that there were remains in the wadi, and they made sure that they were repatriated. In this country's armed forces we pay a lot of respect to the "parts missing" of our guys when something is eventually found. The other side certainly does not play by the same rules, however, the public fails to realize that 95% of the military will obey "their better angels" when put to the task.

FormerMarineSgt,

You hit the nail on the head. Many in my family have served and retired from the military all the way back to the Indian Wars. We were on both sides of the Indian Wars, but all the same my cousin joined the Army in 1950, fought in Korea, the Banana Wars and Vietnam as a LRP, SOG. We were very close and I was honored to have shared stories on Vietnam. My point is that during his time of four tours as a Sergeant Major in the Nam there was always respect given to the Cong and NVA Regulars. Never were their bodies desecrated or abused as there was a true respect for these brave warriors.

To hear, see and then hear more US soldiers pulling this type of crap is just disgusting at best. These poor examples of soldiers should have been court martialed when this was first exposed. We should never lower ourselves to this level no matter if they do it or not. We are Americans and not monsters who have lost our sense of ethics and become barbarians. Without respect for your enemies you also lose your edge as a warrior. Throw them in Leavenworth for a decade to make a shining example of the consequences for abusing a corpse.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai calling the Marines' actions "inhuman."

But killing your daughter for going to school is? Beating your wife because she displeases you is? Not allowing any woman out of the house without wearing a bee keeper suit is? Growing opium poppies and producing heroin is? Being one of the most corrupt government leaders in the world is?

FMS is right, there is no place for behavior like this in the U.S. armed forces.

Ahh..let em go. We all know that's how Marines "apologize" to the Taliban, and to Al Qaida for taking them out before they could kill more Americans. Should we be shedding tears? Lets leave that job to the Commander-in-Chief, and to The Secretary of State, because that seems to be their forte. At least urine is sterile. I haven't forgotten what they did to my hometown (NYC). I personally think our military needs to kick it up a couple of notches and give those bums something they'll never forget as well. I would've been pissing gasoline. The enemy needs to smell what we're cooking- with great fear. They're so easy to rattle, and even easier to offend, which is an unmistakable sign of sheer weakness. The hardest jihadi is soft compared to any Marine pushing pencils. Go hard or don't go at all.

I realize it is not right, but I can't help but think that we should arm them with industrial strength Ex-Lax, and forbid cameras. It might keep them sane.

Road,

This isn't about killing them before they kill us. Pissing on corpses was not necessary for these soldiers survival.

By saying this is in any way acceptable, you do a disservice to our upstanding marines.

Gldnsabre-

How about you ask the Soviet Army how the whole "be brutal in Afghanistan" thing worked out for them?

Lev Tolstoy2
Touché!!

Just because they act like savages doesn't mean we have to stoop to their level.

Our service men and women should uphold themselves to higher standards than the people they combat. Even if the urge to do so is strong.

People we are at war ! Do you think the enemy gives a c-h-i-t about us? and you arm chair rambos think what they did is bad? I have done alot worse to the enemy! If you don't like it then get them the hell out of there !!! They are dying for nothing! We have been there for ten years now WHY are we still there? I know what I'm talking about as a CIB second award for those who know what that means, all this is now is a police action war just like vietnam, we fought and died and for what? TEN years of combat my God how do they stay SANE !!! War is not a day at the park,War is kill the enemy when ever you can and Demorlize them when ever you can !!! And if they come home alive most of you will treat them like dirt, So if what they do offends you then get them the hell out of there !

it is very hard to point a weapon at a person and kill them

Really? How many members does the NRA have again?

What is with all these "WELL THEY DO IT TOO! WAAAH!" people? What are ya'll, a bunch of 12 year olds?

I'm serious, didn't your mommy and daddy teach you anything about being an adult?

GROW UP. The United States military has ethical and disciplinary standards that our soldiers are expected to uphold. They slip sometimes, no doubt, and in those cases proper NJP is the result. That's what's happening here, as it should. Holy hell I hope to GOD none of ya'll were military or plan to join after you graduate from high school (but first you must graduate junior high it seems).

@ Shuklack exactly, I can't beleive how AMERICANSl are condoning this FRAT BOY SICKOS indefensible act, it's almost like school boys saying, I'll show mine if youshow me yours, WTH PPL? If we don't condone this, what NEXT?

WE ARE AMERICANS, leaders of the FREE world and this is what we do? Video tape our marines pissin on dead bodies of the enemy? We have lower our marines to a lowest moral level EVER.. telling them THIS IS OK.. WTH america?

While I certainly don't condone this type of behavior, I also don't think it should be unexpected nor do I believe the Afghani Taliban have any room to judge or act in furor over it. Um really? There are literally thousands of videos on youtube that show these people desicrating the flag, our dead soldgiers, our embassies, and pretty much anything else american. These are the very people that literally moments before had guns pointed at our people for nothing but them being there trying to promote stability in a region that is historically unstable. Does anyone actually believe this doesn't happen every day with every variety of soldgier on soldgier or country on country? Yet our people are supposed to show decorum? The only mistake they made was letting this get filmed, and it really doesn't matter what country the soldgiers come from. This is war people. It ain't pretty and there are no rules even if you'd like to think there are. The outrage is wasted coming from those who are ignorant to what war looks like, has always looked like, and always will be like. People die, only the strong have rights and even they have to fight for them to keep them, things are destroyed, life loses its value for the pawns, and there is no respect for the defeated.

"and you arm chair rambos think what they did is bad?"

The people who are pressing charges here are not "arm chair rambos." They are officers in the United States Military. You know, those pacifist pansies with all the medals on their chest who don't know the first thing about war.

Listen I agree that they what they did was foolish. These Marines did something stupid, but I think attaching a criminal charge to it is a bit extreme. If anything they should be not guilty because of mental duress caused by battle. Yes they messed up, but the punishment of a court marshal does not fit the crime. The dudes were dead and they were fanatics. Im no more upset at Taliban bodies being pissed on than I am pedophiles being killed and mutilated in prison. These fanatics are savages and sometimes our men and women are going to snap. As long as no innocents were hurt, no court marshal is warranted.

"LevTolstoy2

Gldnsabre-

How about you ask the Soviet Army how the whole "be brutal in Afghanistan" thing worked out for them?"

There is a difference between being brutal(when someone is alive) and being demoralizing by using the death to spread a message.

"LevTolstoy2

"and you arm chair rambos think what they did is bad?"

The people who are pressing charges here are not "arm chair rambos." They are officers in the United States Military. You know, those pacifist pansies with all the medals on their chest who don't know the first thing about war."

The only reason that these people are being charged with this criminally is the fact the the news made it a big deal and the higher ups want to save face.

Will they be court martialled for D.W.I. ? Dripping Wizz on Insurgents . Or M.I.P. ? Mullahs Injected with Pi$$. The phrase the yellow peril will now take on a new meaning . How can we restrain the soldiers and marines in the future ? Depends !

Are you talking about a sharp knife? What an unpatriotic thing to say, these young republicans should be brought back to the US and allowed to urinate on their own children.

They should receive an apology from the Taliban leaders, kind of like Obama apologizing after they killed Ambassador Stevens and dragged him through the streets of Libya.

Tex2c, tex2c.....how the hell do you know they are Republicans? Ahhhh you don't , but you assume they are. Just like Al Sharpton!!

Why? A medal for violating international treaty? Disrespecting their uniform and what it stands for? Violating their oaths as a soldier and as a human being?

This country was founded on inalienable human rights and those dead people are HUMAN, therefore they have RIGHTS.

If our soldiers died and the extremists urinated on them, we would be just as outraged as they are at seeing this behavior in our troops. It's what you do that matters, not whose name you do it in.

Tom####

I think the assumption is accurate, because if you look at the posting history of those who say things like 'give them medals' - it's quite apparent their political leanings.

Does that necessarily mean the soldiers are Repubs? No. But it does bespeak to the type of mentality that thinks desecrating corpses is not only okay, but commendable.

As a vet myself, and it seems that most vets on these boards agree - their unprofessional, childish conduct is a disgrace and they deserve their NJP. It's understandable that in a warzone stuff like this happens, but that does not absolve them of the duty to their branch's core values.

The enemy is also a man, like any other man. You kill him before he kills you. Once that man is dead, he is no longer your enemy - he's just a dead man. Dishonering the dead is pathetic.

"Those dead people have RIGHTS"??
Am I the only one who sees how ludicrous this is?
If you are so concerned about an individual's human rights, why would you kill him?

Shame their colons weren't full.

Oh yeah - let's justify how the enemy treats our dead and prisoners by doing what they can exploit to thier benefit.

Yeah - let's cause more outrage against Americans - Let's cause MORE Americans to die because it's cool to urinate on the enemy - it's cool to behead them, burn them, hang them from bridges and so on!!

Yeah - It's cool to act just as bad as the enemy. Yeah - it's cool to scream and rant and rave against them when THEY do that to our troops, but hey - when it's thier people, who cares, right? We can continue to show the world how much we depend on double standards and our own hypocracy!!!

Yeah - let's give them more ammunition to create the next generation of America hating Terrorists who WILL kill more Americans because we think it's so cool to mistreat the enemy!!!

Geez - you guys are beyond pathetic. As a former Marine, I know what honor is. You have no honor if you support this kind of behavior.

Yeah - I do agree that the terrorists and those who support them are our enemies, and if we meet them in battle, we kill them. HOWEVER - as Americans, we DO NOT behave like that enemy. We are greater than our enemy in every way - that is unless we have clowns that support our behaving as badly as the enemy does.

Amen, they can kill innocent non-military people in gruesome ways, cut heads off and broadcast it for everyone to see, but they think this in "inhuman". We need to just pull our troops out and level that @!$%# hole excuse for a country. I'm tired of our young men and women sacrificing limbs and their lives to help these ungrateful people who turn on the very people training them, arming them, and giving them a chance to have a decent future. But the U.S. has to be civilized during war and worry about what the rest of the world thinks. F them, if someone not involved doesn't like it they need to think how they'd feel if there was airplanes full of their citizens flown into iconic buildings in their countries. We need to get out now before WWIII starts, cause it's coming soon.

They can drag our dead through the streets, dismember their bodies, hang them from bridges but it is not ok when we respond: I say piss on them!

As a former Marine, they know better than that. On the other hand when 18 to 22 year olds are put in to war, it changes them and unfortunitly these things will happen. Probably a couple minutes before the pictures were taken those Marines were being shot at and fighting for their lives. What they did afterwards was bad but it's going to happen. Punish? yea, court martial? nah. Funny how everything the US does makes the news but whats is happening to our guys rarely gets a mention? just saying

So America LIES to invade a country that has never harmed a hair on an Americans head EVER and then you wonder why the locals aren't happy. Just wow! And the over 1 million dead Iraqis - including women, children and babies have been Democratized I guess.

You guys are frigging morons. We invaded their fuc!ing country and you expect them to offer gifts and rose water or something? America INVADED Iraq - ILLEGALLY. What part of that is confusing to you mouth-breathers?! You're calling a people that have watched their relatives be humiliated and murdered in front of their eyes - "ungrateful"?? Seriously?! So, I guess the Russians should have invaded the South in the 50's to free the "negroes" from the oppressive regime, right?? Americans would have been grateful right? I mean if America can invade a country because their government is hurting its people than that is exactly what was happening here not so long ago. Damn are you people really this obtuse?

No wonder America sucks at everything now - you people are fuc!ing retarded, and you probably have children as narrow-minded and stupid as you. American troops are the terrorists - the Iraqis are DEFENDING their homeland from INVADERS. WMD's anyone?? lol

Hey, I get it, if America does it it's okay right? I mean what's a million or so dead Iraqis to the morons posting on this site?? Plus they are Muslim so they got it coming. And they have brown skin so who cares right? And Fox News says they should be happy about having their country ruined, and their relatives smashed to bits, so it's all good.

And they hate us for our "freedoms"... lol Stupid is way over-represented by the idiots responding to this article

Whoopdefreakingdoooo!!! So, they pissed on them - they were dead. The Taliban cuts our guys heads off while they are alive then burn their bodies from a bridge.

Redman41 -

Last I checked, Afghanistan and Iraq were two different countries. Might want to check yourself before you start throwing the insults around...

I think alot of you geniuses have Iraq and Afghanistan confused. I'm sure it doesn't matter since most of you cousin humping neanderthals couldn't find either country on a map. I'll give you a clue, They're far far away from Disneyland.

Very well said again Former Marine Sgt.

Maybe the surviving enemy should have their right hand cut off so they can eat with the same hand they clean themselves with.

former marine sgt has never seen combat he was a pencil pusher, and if the truth be known I doubt if he was ever a Marine ! Marines don't stab other Marines in the back....................

There seems to be a lot of talk here coming out of the mouths of immature and/or sick people. We cannot control what the anger filled terrorists do - but we can control what we do. If any of you thinks urinating on a dead person helps anything, you need help.

These acts are not statements about the dead person, they are statements about the mental and moral health of the person urinating. Serious military discipline is called for...

I agree with you Silver-

I highly doubt former marine sgt was a Marine at all. In fact, I can prove it (in his own words),

How many Marines use the term "Former Marine".....Let me answer that (I happen to be the mom of a Marine) - NEVER!! Once a Marine, always a Marine. You insult them if you say "former Marine".

Perhaps your screen name should be Stolen Valor! You never earned that title and it disgusts me that you would post on here as if you did. If you knew what really went on over there you would understand why they pissed on them. Go back to playing your video games in your mommy's basement. Playing Ghost Recon DOES NOT qualify you as a Marine.

As a Former Marine, I disagree with you. These men dishonored the Marine Corps by thier behavior. They need to be punished to full extent of the UCMJ.

We DO NOT behave in the ways of our enemy. These clowns did. End of discussion.

Hey REDMAN 41, I think the Taliban has a couple of openings in their ranks after that incident. They could sure use your help, because they're sure getting pissed on out there in the battlefields. So grab you an AK47, your passport, a good pair of sandles, and some extra towels, because you're most likely gonna get wet. Oh,... and don't forget your protest signs, and your righteous indignation- the Taliban won't accept you without those items. And Former Marine Sgt, what does Semper Fi mean again? I think it refers to always backing your fellow Marines, unless they're abusing the innocent and the helpless. Besides, the Marines could've already been in the process of urinating when those Taliban hardheads tripped over some fresh hot NATO rounds and just got caught in a bad spot. Maybe the dead bodies were looking a little dry and needed moisture.

cool. So behaving no better than our enemy is proper.

Amazing.

No Marine should ever get away with this kind of behavior. Period.

100% on the mark. This is bought to attention by one low life @!$%# head general, by the look of it. He is prepared to sacrifice a couple of REAL SOLDIERS to pin another UN-EARNED STAR on his UN-EARNED UNIFORM.

This should have been pushed under the table, so this low life general, who has more than likely never left the shores of the US could not gain points from LOW LIFE Karzai and his Taliban mates.

Karzai hates America and Americans, and uses every chance he has to down grade the US. Give him another truck load of money Barry and Hillary.

Pull the naughty troops out of this @!$%# hole so they cannot be naughty boys anymore. Job done.

Trust me, I am really pissed off reading this, and I am not AMERICAN. I am Australian.

Sember Fi Sarge ... you have the right of it.

Semper Fi Sarge.

They represent the United States when they have that uniform on and they disgraced it.

"This should have been pushed under the table, so this low life general, who has more than likely never left the shores of the US could not gain points from LOW LIFE Karzai and his Taliban mates."

Well if by "more than likely" you mean "I am making a conjecture that is demonstrably false," then you would be correct. Lt. Gen. Mills has served in:

Japan

Israel

Italy

Kosovo

Afghanistan

Iraq

@CourageLovePeaceLive.........what a disgusting post...I suppose after seeing your loved ones tortured and killed or beheaded you would forgive them from the bottom of your idiot bible-thumping heart...what a fool!!

Courage, what a waste you must be. These men and women serve their country and put their lives on the line unlike you. I helped defend your right to be a moron, but still believe that the oxygen you breathe would be put to better use by a cockroach.

Bill,

You seem to have considerable disdain, for those practicing the free speech you fought to protect. Someone can't disagree with you, without you calling them a name?

Most of these men and women are joining the Marine Corps just to get their college paid for, some already have their college degree and enlist just to serve. How idiotic of you to think they are uneducated. I wonder what state of mind you would be in if you were in combat day after day after day X200, 24/7, no breaks, no vacations, just bombarded with real images of death and destruction. Watching your fellow Marines die right in front of you.

RebbieJo - Watching your fellow Marines die right in front of you......

......and caring so little about your fellow Marines who are still alive that you're willing to put them at risk by desecrating your enemy's corpse.

These nuts don't deserve to be Marines.

A fair amount of people who actually have degrees will be working at McDonald's for the rest of their life...

realitystinks101 - I am pretty sure most Marines score a lot higher on the SAT & ACT than you ever did.

Certainly Bush's wars caused a lot of the dregs of society to slip through on morals waivers who normally never would have been admitted, like these particular Marines.

@ CourageLovePeaceLive - the Taliban are not human. Go back to France.

Late,

Are they Martian?

latekate said:

the Taliban are not human.

The Taliban are human. They bleed red, walk upright, they talk, live, breathe, love and hate just like you and me. Simply because they believe something different than you do doesn't make them less than human. If one of them defected, would they still not be 'human'? At what point would they be 'human' to you?

It's what you do that matters, not whose Name you do it in.

Are they Martian?

No I'm an Earthling sometimes Venusian.

Amanda - wrong, the Taliban bleed black slime, walk on fours paws and are cold-hearted murderers and mutilators who only love themselves and hate everyone else. You really should question your priorities.

Shrekk....shocking that you are an Obama supporter (you gave it away by blaming Bush). Wasn't it Obama that made the big push in Afghanistan? Hmmmmmmmmm

Realitystinks101, who started two wars that were put on the country's credit card to be paid for by our posterity? Who lied to the public that there were WMD's when even our intelligence agency knew there were not? Who was it that exposed a field agent just because her husband would not tell lies about Iraq having WMD's just to vindicate a crusade to start a war? Who brought us the Great Recession that destroyed the middle class that will take at least 15 years to begin recovery from? Who destroyed the opportunity for the middle class to attend college without having to promise their first born to have the opportunity? Who created a drug benefit for Medicare that cost our senior citizens their life savings just to afford medication when they fell into the donut hole? I could go on but I believe my point has been made.

Or maybe just a dishonorable discharge since all they did was commit a war crime?

It actually isn't a war crime. It's a violation of a code of conduct, namely the UCMJ, but it is not a serious violation of the rules of war. I mean, come on now, they were urinating on dead bodies not forcing whole villages into gas chambers. Lets try and draw a distinction here.

Travis from Soviet Occupied New England - It actually isn't a war crime.

The Geneva Conventions disagree with you, specifically Convention I Art. 15 and Convention II Art 18.

The US is signatory to both. We also authored both.

Look, did you guys see the movie Troy? Achilles drags his enemy's body around tied to his chariot wheels, because the guy had killed his buddy. He did not urinate on the dead enemy...or if he did, the poet chose not to describe it. I mean, war is war and always has been.

skrekk hitler was a war crime not this.

What a fool you are.

aworldofhurt - hitler was a war crime not this.

I suggest you read the treaty to learn just how wrong you are.

http://www.icrc.org/ihl.nsf/FULL/365?OpenDocument

Also, the US Marine Corp seems to think it's a war crime:

http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/marine_urination_video_could_be_evidence_of_a_war_crime_official_says/

CNN quotes a senior Marine Corps official who examined the video. He said the desecration of a body by U.S. troops could be a potential war crime. The Geneva Conventions bar desecrating bodies of those killed in war, the New York Times reports. The laws of war also bar photographing of dead bodies, according to the Associated Press.

"Rules of war"?
That concept has always amused me.
Young people are sent by old men to kill other young people and are expected to abide by " rules?"
They make it sound like a game.

war is war!

WELL SAID Bill.........................................................

My question is: Did Afganistan sign the Geneva Covention? Just asking. I agree with what you say, but if they did not sign, I wouldn't expect them to comply.

It doesn't matter if Afghanistan signed on to the Geneva Conventions. We did.

onermailliw - Did Afganistan sign the Geneva Covention?

The US did, which is all that really matters since we're a party to the conflict. So says the US supreme court.

They'll likely be prosecuted under UCMJ general article 134:

Though not specifically mentioned in this chapter, all disorders and neglects to the prejudice of good order and discipline in the armed forces, all conduct of a nature to bring discredit upon the armed forces, and crimes and offenses not capital, of which persons subject to this chapter may be guilty, shall be taken cognizance of by a general, special or summary court-martial, according to the nature and degree of the offense, and shall be punished at the discretion of that court.

They also could be prosecuted under UCMJ article 92 in reference to GO1B.2f (photography of detainees or human casualties).

Either way, they're screwed.

Isn't urine an antisceptic? So these marines were preventing the bodies from being "despoiled"! Or marking their territory to protect them from further harm...

I don't think this is a war, it's more like a police action.

Hence no Geneva convention.

aworldofhurt - I don't think this is a war, it's more like a police action.

Hence no Geneva convention.

Strange......it seems the supreme court disagreed with you in Hamdan v. Rumsfeld.

Hey skrekk, or is it shrekk? Would you let your folks go to a gunfight with a stick and some marshmallows? Hopefully not. The moment one side of a conflict strays, or completely ignores established "conventions" of war- like Al Qaida and the Taliban, who have never acknowledged The Geneva Convention, unless our military has them in a pinchpoint, oh, then they wanna bring up rules. It would be simply stupid to follow conventional rules based on only one side being bound by rules. The jihadis don't give a rats ass about rules. Two to tango.

Thomas from Tenn. - Would you let your folks go to a gunfight with a stick and some marshmallows?

I'd expect my soldiers to follow good military discipline, not engage in war crimes, and not endanger their fellow soldiers by desecrating the corpses of their enemies.

It seems to be just cowards and keyboard warriors who want to prove a point by peeing on the dead.

No. When our soldiers act like animals just like the Taliban, they win.

I know! It's just shocking that we'd prosecute Marines when they commit war crimes, isn't it?

Thank you for your service. However, I do believe "formermarinesgt" has the right of this situation. You don't.

We are supposed to be BETTER. Set the EXAMPLE.

This doesn't do it.

No, Beth. We are supposed to be stronger.

Ah Cassandra -- there you have the problem. Stronger, without morality, is not better.

Skrekk
War itself is a crime.

this could get the lil Muslims outraged as did the video of allah

And that's precisely why they'll be prosecuted, because their public acts of corpse desecration will result in more dead US soldiers (if they haven't already).

You really are deluded man..Muslims are at war with the world..........Wherever Muslims go they fight.....Muslims versus Budists, Muslims versus Hindus, Muslims versus Christians......if it were possible the Muslims would be at war with the Shinto and Wiccans as well....

No we must fight dilligently and forever keep watch against the religion known as Islam......as it(Islam) is at war with humanity itself.

I will conceede that most religions have had warlike times but not seen many articles as of late about Buddhist terrorists..yet the Muslims find ways to make it so....

EDIT my bad.....War versus Jewish folk too

Garravesh said:

You really are deluded man..Muslims are at war with the world..........Wherever Muslims go they fight.....Muslims versus Budists, Muslims versus Hindus, Muslims versus Christians......We have had Muslims in our country for all 200 years of our nation's history. We have never collectively had a national problem with them, and we still don't. When the attack came, it came from without, not from within.

We have Muslim soldiers fighting for America in this war too. By lumping them all in the same category as the extremists, you disrespect their service and their sacrifice.

if it were possible the Muslims would be at war with the Shinto and Wiccans as well....

I've never had a Muslim tell me i was going to hell for being a witch. However I have had many Christians tell me so.

I will conceede that most religions have had warlike times but not seen many articles as of late about Buddhist terrorists..yet the Muslims find ways to make it so....

The Jews went through their 'let's kill everybody who doesn't agree with us' phase back when they crucified Christ for blasphemy. The Christians went through their 'let's kill everybody who doesn't agree with us' period back in the Middle Ages with such instances as the Inquisition. Now we see Islam struggling through the extremists' 'lets kill everyone who doesn't agree with us' phase.

This is simply the natural evolution of a religion.

The Jews didn't kill Christ.
The Romans did.

pgard ...

That's the way war has ALWAYS been. You might read a little Von Clausewitz ... a book studied by most (if not all) military officers. One quote stands out, and is very apropos for your comment .

War is the continuation of policy (politics) by other means."
From "On War"

Lorenzo F.R.P. - If nobody else follows the Geneva Convention, why should we.

Because we're a signatory to those treaties.

I do not condon what these young Marines have done. They will be hung by the PC establishment...

Meanwhile the CIA, Pilots, and drone operators will continue to kill innocents with NO Repercussions. The area Commanders will issue an apology and the Politicians will throw money at the family members...

skrekk,

The USA has avoided having to abide by the Geneva Convention, by using AUMFs. The last time the USA declared War was 1942...

Just ask how the USA uses drones for assassinations of those deemed threats. In direct violation of the; US Constitution, Presidential EOs, Geneva Convention, and International Laws...

BTY - I did my 26+ in the Marines and served in Iraq...

AC Robertson - The USA has avoided having to abide by the Geneva Convention, by using AUMFs.

Hamdan v. Rumsfeld disagrees, as Bush was disappointed to learn.

The AUMF is simply a means for Congress to avoid its responsibility for declaring war, but it doesn't avoid our treaty obligations (as SCOTUS has ruled).

NO POTUS has yet to be charged/convicted for the CIA actions, which are directed by them...

NO POTUS has even been charged by the World Court for violations...

In other words, the US Leadership and Officer Corps are seldom held ACCOUNTABLE...

But let a Enlisted step out of line and they are toast, espically if it makes the MEDIA notice...

I'm glad I retired prior to the PC madness and video cameras everywhere...

Meanwhile the USA is still killing/injuring thousands with their land mines, bomblets, and chemical weapons. And refusing to sign the Treaties that ban their manufacture and use...

Agreed, and it's a shame we're incapable of holding our leaders accountable for their crimes.

At least Bush and Cheney won't be traveling to the EU anymore, lest they be arrested.

All former servicemen and women know that we could win each and every conflict/war we are involved in, we only have to do one basic things as was done in WWII...KILL EVERYBODY

I've been to the EU, they are not missing anything...

China holds their political and business leaders accountable. Jail time and even DEATH has been given for malfeasance in office...

Thailand, has removed 3 of their last 5 PMs from office because of outside income/profit. They and their wives are only allowed their Government wages/income, while serving office...

Thailand's Politicians are banned from political activities for 5+years, for any criminal conviction. This has lead to some interesting court cases, even where a popular Politicial shot and killed an associate in a public resterant, with many observers. Srill serving in Office, no conviction yet... Ha! Ha!

basic things as was done in WWII...KILL EVERYBODY

And even THAT wasn't done. There were many places "off limits" and political considerations, and we sure scooped up the Nazis right afterwards making the allies pretty quickly.

They all hid in the Vatican! Of course the Vatican played their part in turning their backs on those who needed help the most just to appease Musolini and Hitler for beginners. The Vatican got their first choice of alter boys in exchange for turning their backs as so called Christians.

pgard
Excellent point.
Soldiers are sent to fight but are "hamstrung" by the politicians.
It is nothing new.

This is why the civilians are in charge. So STFU and do what you are told.

Here Here, I couldn't agree more! This country has turned into a nation of fake tough guys who don't mind telling military brass or the commander in chief what THEY would do although they've never been apart of the military. The "armchair generals" who don't mind sending others kids into combat zones, but were chickensh*t to join up themselves. Not only that, but our last president seems to have achieved the notion of getting everyone of these types of people thinking that war is somehow FREE. We can't afford them and a lot of spineless a-holes don't want to fight in them, they just call for them every 5 minutes.

Dave- that's why you have a commader-in-chief who disrespects our troops and flag. All Commanders-in-chief should have to serve in some capacity. You shouldn't be in charge of the Best Military in the World without knowing how it is structured.

onermailliw - that's why you have a commader-in-chief who disrespects our troops and flag. All Commanders-in-chief should have to serve in some capacity.

Bush served (sort of) and was pretty clueless about what it meant to respect our troops and flag.

No ethical president would allow his troops to torture, or waste their lives on a lie.

ONERMAILLIW, what the hell are you talking about? What country do you live in exactly? You seem to not understand that that little slice of bullsh*t you are talking about is NOT apart of becoming president and NEVER has. You can't pick and choose which one of these guys you would choose to drop that little loophole for that you are suggesting. I bet he understands a lot more than you do since he IS actually in charge and privi to much more information than all of us put together. I guess you are saying that because he is black, he shouldn't be the commander-in-chief, just like you would say if he were Mexican American. And then what about that wimpy little pussy-boy Romney, you think he's tougher? Well he ALSO didn't serve! Neither did Dick Cheney, and GWB ran off to the reserves and went AWOL. Shut up....

Agreed. In fact I think cowards like skrekk- if he ,or she would only get their heads out of their ass long enough, should go ahead and run for the presidency in 2016. It appears that they already have ALL the answers.

Very good. And did you notice that he never took the wrapper off the cigar? That way he could smoke it later.

pgard, what the hell does that have to do with Marines breaking rules and laws in Afghanistan? I know the right wing brain is small, but DO try to stay on topic.

She probally furnished the cigar.

pgard ...It is actually none of your damn business what goes on with the Clintons or Ms Lewinsky, I think that Bill should have just told every one who was sticking their big noses into his business to take a hike. If you want to hold people to a moral standard, maybe you should have one of your own, it appears you are unfamiliar with what constitutes a moral standard. I do believe that all parties involved were adults and acted with mutual consent. The fact that you are frigid and uptight is your problem.

Pgard seems to have penis envy or it would not have made such a lewd and ridiculous statement on a sixth grade level. Maybe I am giving this person too much credit with the sixth grade level comment?

As I recall, the body of the helicopter pilot shot down over Mogadishu was treated in much the same way and everybody in this country who have seen the footage was blown away by the savagery. Now we should lower ourselves to that very same level? Not only is it filthy, its also very disgusting! We actually have laws on the books in this country against things like this, go ahead a try to do that to a corpse in the U.S. I know what all in favor of this is going to say, "they are not in the U.S.". It's also against the Geneva Convention to desecrate a body in any way. That, and the fact that most of us believe in the theory of "American exceptionalism". Well that is not very exceptional, It's just like the Taliban savages. Pick which one you want to be?

Yeah right

You were never in a combat zone.

Tom Adams: Maybe we should put you in jail for at least a year for being an idiot.

"Do whatever you can to demoralize the enemy, and to WIN!"

One lesson the white hero George Custer must have not heard about LOL

oh, kind of like a bad video so they burn your embassy and kill your ambassador. I guess we should start with freedom for women first and fry anyone who doesn't go along. I know, they violated their orders to love their enemy and take any type of killing and maiming that comes their way. ~ Bad boys.

All you people who said that these MARINES enraged the talaban and made it more dangerous for our military is BULLCRAP!! The talaban would kill them regardless! That is their nature!! There are to many people who don't know what their talking about!!