tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9395124.post110854111936342276..comments2005-08-08T00:11:06.146+09:00Comments on Riding Sun: Update on Ilario PantanoUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9395124.post-1118095827693866722005-06-07T07:10:00.000+09:002005-06-07T07:10:00.000+09:00At this writing Lt. Pantano has already been exone...At this writing Lt. Pantano has already been exonerated. I am a retired Marine (20+) years. For my love of the Corps and what it stands for, I hope that the young Lt. is innocent of what he was accused of.<BR/><BR/>And I 'hope' you understand me when I say I SILL hope he is innocent of the crime(s) he was accused of. Because quiet as it's kept, being FOUND innocent of crime in a court of law, and actually BEING innocent of the crime are two different things.<BR/><BR/>People talk trash about the military, its procedures and investigations ..and CHARGES regarding military personnel DOING THEIR JOBS. I just think before people SAY that, they should KNOW what a military person's job IS. (Unfortunately there are even service members who have no clue, but THINK they 'do'.) Readers here have to realize that many Americans, serving in the U. S. Armed Forces or not, could never fathom 'killing Iraqis' as murder ..regardless of the circumstances. THAT is why you must give the military their SPACE, and let them investigate and DO what they have to DO.<BR/><BR/>From what I get via news and info on the case, and the different accounts of who was 'there', I don't see any problem with uncuffing prisoners to conduct a vehicle search. (I wouldn't want MY men doing it, considering the possibility(ies) of booby trap.) But I'd uncuff ONE of them, only. Why did the Lt. not want any of his men present? And what motive did the Sgt have for saying they were 'told' to look away? He may have been disgruntled due to being assigned a Lance Corporal's job, but such a charge could get the L T the Death Penalty for Christ' sake! WHY would the Sgt put himself OUT THERE like that? And why the 'sign'? Could those Iraqis have 'seen it coming' (not the sign, but the Lt's actions) and either fled or ran toward the Lt. figuring they had nothing to lose? IF that was the case, it really wouldn't matter WHICH way they were running, now, WOULD it? (i.e. If I was unarmed and aimed in on, I'd run, too.) <BR/><BR/>The point I'm making is ..IF the Lt. felt danger or perceived move(s) toward him to pose a threat or potential threat, then by all means, he had every RIGHT to kill those men. But if they were running towards him (or away) because they feared for THEIR lives from what THEY perceived while being alone with him, then the Lt. has to live with that. <BR/><BR/>Unfortunately, there are many American people (military and civilian) who would have no problem living with such a thing, when it comes to the lives of the enemy (threat or no threat) ..combatant or non-combatant. THAT is why you can't fault the military for 'investigating', heeding charges, and DOING what they HAVE to DO.<BR/><BR/>Lastly I just want to reemphasize that you cannot bash the military for doing THEIR job. Otherwise you'd have a lot of hot-headed military personnel with the 'means' to act out their frustrations with no repercussions to consider. As MUCH as I despise the fact that these 2 Iraqis were insurgents housing bomb equipment & weapons for purposes against the U. S., and I feel the Lt. and his men were much better off with those 2 dead than alive, I still don't want a trigger-happy military that condones taking advantage of the situation. That would make us no better than the Hitler regime. The trial a 'farce'? I don't THINK so. <BR/><BR/><A></A><A></A>Posted by<A><B> </B></A><A HREF="http://ridingsun.blogspot.com/2005/02/update-on-ilario-pantano.html" REL="nofollow" TITLE="milyunbuks at yahoo dot com">Ken Wetalk</A>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9395124.post-1110420036938232792005-03-10T11:00:00.001+09:002005-03-10T11:00:00.001+09:00I, too, hope this young man is not guilty of the c...I, too, hope this young man is not guilty of the crimes. My brother was in Iraq, and Thank God, he came home unscathed. My understanding of military courts is that they are designed to find guilt, regardless of the facts. There are different rules for high ranking officials than for lower ranking officers. When are we (the government and the people as a whole) going to get behind the brave soldiers who are covering our butts by protecting our country? They VOLUNTEER to protect and serve.  <br /><br /><A></A><A></A>Posted by<A><B> </B></A><A HREF="http://iowageek.blogspot.com " REL="nofollow" TITLE="jhauschildt at dwx dot com">Jen H</A>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9395124.post-1110420035159336782005-03-10T11:00:00.000+09:002005-03-10T11:00:00.000+09:00I, too, hope this young man is not guily of the cr...I, too, hope this young man is not guily of the crimes. My brother was in Iraq, and Thank God, he came home unscathed. My understanding of military courts is that they are designed to find guilt, regardless of the facts. There are different rules for high ranking officials than for lower ranking officers. When are we (the government and the people as a whole) going to get behind the brave soldiers who are covering our butts by protecting our country? They VOLUNTEER to protect and serve.  <br /><br /><A></A><A></A>Posted by<A><B> </B></A><A HREF="http://iowageek.blogspot.com " REL="nofollow" TITLE="jhauschildt at dwx dot com">Jen H</A>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9395124.post-1109801883693487992005-03-03T07:18:00.000+09:002005-03-03T07:18:00.000+09:00I have personal experience with the U.S.M.C. and t...I have personal experience with the U.S.M.C. and this kind of crap. My son stood a general court marshal for premeditated murder in Viet Nam. Despite all the testimony to his innocence the Marine Corp intent on protecting its own ass used the Naval criminal investigate service to lie,intimidate witnesses, withhold evidence in an effort to convict.Despite all of the "command influence" my son was exonerated by the court msrtial board. My advice to Lt.Pantano:Get the best lawyer that money can buy and all your congressional people to press for the truth as the Marine Corp in intent on conviction. <br /> <br /><br /><A></A><A></A>Posted by<A><B> </B></A><A HREF="http://ridingsun.blogspot.com/2005/02/update-on-ilario-pantano.html" REL="nofollow" TITLE="carbts at att dot net">C.A. Roberts</A>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9395124.post-1108786131858622202005-02-19T13:08:00.000+09:002005-02-19T13:08:00.000+09:00I knew Ilario in high school, college and well boy...I knew Ilario in high school, college and well boyond. If you knew him, you'd know how absurd any question of whether this man could commit murder was. He has always been, and remains, one of the most stand up, honest and exemplory men I have ever known or met.  <br /><br /><A></A><A></A>Posted by<A><B> </B></A>old friendAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9395124.post-1108785178645582352005-02-19T12:52:00.000+09:002005-02-19T12:52:00.000+09:00I worked with Lt. Pantano for eight months in 1998...I worked with Lt. Pantano for eight months in 1998 on a television show in NYC. I have nothing to add to the above comments save that I cannot imagine this young man doing anything other than his proper duty in exemplary fashion. He was that kind of fellow then, I expect he still is. <br /><br /><A></A><A></A>Posted by<A><B> </B></A><A HREF="http://ridingsun.blogspot.com/2005/02/update-on-ilario-pantano.html" REL="nofollow" TITLE="fourbuttons2003 at yahoo dot com">Glenn Bowen</A>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9395124.post-1108597344806190472005-02-17T08:42:00.000+09:002005-02-17T08:42:00.000+09:00I am unwilling to jump to any judgements at this p...I am unwilling to jump to any judgements at this point, including that we 'know' and of the facts about what happened yet.<br /><br />It is possible though, that this guy was never really a 'hero' as we think of the term but rather a homicidal maniac who found a way to legally do his killing, until he crossed the line anyway.<br /><br />I am certainly not going to accuse Pantano of that at this point, merely I am pointing out that such a thing is not inconcievable, and might would fit what facts we know as well.<br /><br />Personally I tend to believe the 'angry sergeant' story line at the moment, but I am sure the facts will come out in time. <br /><br /><A></A><A></A>Posted by<A><B> </B></A><A HREF="http://davejustus.blogspot.com" REL="nofollow" TITLE="davejustus at comcast dot net">Dave Justus</A>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9395124.post-1108556673620364452005-02-16T21:24:00.000+09:002005-02-16T21:24:00.000+09:00Rashomon, well there are differant perceptions but...Rashomon, well there are differant perceptions but this:<br /><br />1. he uncuffed them.<br />2. if you apprehended someone who's house is full of bomb material do you think they are safe to uncuff? I mean insurgents are known for being violent, and they were in that circumstance seemingly known insurgent, everyone agrees on this?<br />3. an officer, and where's the rest of his squad? Is it true he sent people away? It's in the discovery.<br /> I presume his innocence, just too much I don't know.<br /><br />i'd say having to shoot out someone's tires is clearly a combat situation and despite "wanting" him to be innocent, it just doesn't make sense from a safety stand point to uncuff suspects. either the officer was not using s.o.p. or he was in the heat of the moment not remembering common sense. Or in the heat of the moment deciding do get some pay back for something. Being a wartime situation it is clear that the Marine corp would seemingly give the benefit of the doubt, and that the charges are so serious that political pressures will be exerted in the case. <br /><br />We are not getting the whole picture, I agree if they were running away or toward Lt. Pantano and they were shot, that doesn't constitute murder. A lawyer in executing the UCMJ isn't looking for scapegoats in this situation,(remember the footage on cnn in Falujah, that marine shot the insurgent, just in case. well he didn't get charged with anything, it was a combat situation.) it's a matter if the witnesses testimony holds up. If Pantano told other men under his command to leave, that's going to come out too. You don't think a Patriot is capable of murder? This guy is with out a doubt a Patriot, with all the good and bad that can imply. His lawyer is doing a good job defending him, playing to public sentiment. I think he's going to be let off innocent or not. Hope he's innocent though <br /><br />Hoping and political pressure don't change the truth. Of course I hope Michael Jackson is innocent, because I still like his music. <br /><br /><A></A><A></A>Posted by<A><B> </B></A>fasteddieAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9395124.post-1108549172591958962005-02-16T19:19:00.000+09:002005-02-16T19:19:00.000+09:00Hi, Rosemary! Welcome to my blog.
There's a big ...Hi, Rosemary! Welcome to my blog.<br /><br />There's a big difference between differing perceptions and a deliberate lie.<br /><br />I hope that at the very least, the accuser's story of Pantano deliberately executing the two Iraqis and putting a sign on their bodies is proven untrue.<br /><br />I can live with a little uncertainty about which direction the Iraqis were headed when they failed to stop moving. <br /><br /><A></A><A></A>Posted by<A><B> </B></A><A HREF="http://ridingsun.blogspot.com" REL="nofollow" TITLE="gaijin_biker at yahoo dot com">GaijinBiker</A>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9395124.post-1108547875756272542005-02-16T18:57:00.000+09:002005-02-16T18:57:00.000+09:00There was also another Navy person there who disag...There was also another Navy person there who disagrees with the other Navy person. It is a matter of perception. Maybe they are all 3 telling the truth of what they saw. If so, do you remember the trick the Law Professor pulls on the first day of class? Has someone come in and commit a crime, then gets away. Then you have to write a report about what you saw. No one ever gets it right, totally. So someone loses his life because someone PERCEIVED an incident diffently? Not on my watch! Thanks for the heads up. <br /><br /><A></A><A></A>Posted by<A><B> </B></A><A HREF="http://MyNewznIdeas.blogspot.com" REL="nofollow" TITLE="RawSense2004 at yahoo dot com">Rosemary</A>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com