US Marines Caught Urinating On Dead Soldiers

Panetta assures Afghans of full probe into video

The investigation by the Marin Corps into a video depicting what appears to be four Marines urinating on the corpses of Taliban fighters continued Thursday, as Pentagon leaders scrambled to contain the damage caused by the video that continues to spread across the Internet.

Pentagon officials said the criminal investigation would likely look into whether the Marines violated laws of war, which include prohibitions against photographing or mishandling bodies and detainees. It also appeared to violate the U.S. Uniform Code of Military Justice, which governs conduct. Thus, some or all of the four Marines could face a military court-martial or other disciplinary action.

Reaction to the video has been released by several agencies.

The Associated Press reported:

“U.S. officials joined with Afghans in calling it shocking, deplorable, inhumane and a breach of military standards of conduct. It shows men in Marine combat gear standing in a semicircle urinating on the bodies of three men in standard Afghan clothing, one whose chest was covered in blood. It's not certain whether the dead were Taliban fighters, civilians or someone else.”

“The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Army Gen. Martin Dempsey, said he was deeply disturbed by the video and worried that it would erode the reputation of the entire military, not just the Marine Corps.”

“A veterans group, the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, noted the video was the act of a small number of Marines and said it did not reflect the behavior of the millions who have served honorably.
‘Our troops and veterans are already facing enormous challenges and stereotypes both overseas and at home, and we encourage the public and media worldwide to refrain from rushing to stereotypes,’ the group said in a statement.”

White House press secretary Jay Carney told the news outlet President Barack Obama was aware of the story but may not have seen the video.