USA government should pardon the marines who involve in crime in Iraq?

Answer 1

Why? I served in combat, and felt no compunction to commit a crime. If they are truly guilty of a crime, then they need to serve the sentence. It would not serve as a good example to others if otherwise.

Answer 2

No. Not only does it not support good order and discipline (the cornerstone of military regulation) to do so, it also sends the message that our President (the CIC) supports criminal behavior on the part of our servicemen. Nothing good can come from that.

We used to be told on port visits that if we do anything stupid which turns out to be illegal, our government would not do a damned thing to help because we've been warned. Sailors have been left in jails all over the world after they've raped, bought/consumed drugs, etc with no chance of pardons to get them out. Why should the Marines be any different?

Answer 3

The Military court system should be about justice, not about propaganda.

When you are charged with a crime in wartime in the US you have two things to worry about before you can even think or hope for justice and a fair trial

1) The Anti-war and Anti-American groups/nations who want you convicted based on what you are as opposed to anything you do and will attempt to pressure the Military court to convict you.

2) The US Government which is more then willing to sell you out and sacrifice your life and freedon to show it's critics that it is hard on offenses (real or trrumped up)

Answer 4

Only the President can issue pardons.
And he can only pardon federal crimes.

But there are also guidelines for pardons, which generally state that no pardon should be granted until time (usually 5 years) have gone by since the conviction.

Besides, what specific individuals are you talking about?

Answer 5

If you are talking about the rape and murder of a 14yr old and her family of Iraq citizens that are getting protection from the dictator Saddam then NO. they should serve their time and not bring disgrace to the many honorable young soldiers doing the right thing.Also the USA military should never of covered up the friendly fire incident it was obviously a tragic accident made worse by the lies that accompany it.

Answer 6

I agree to a point that they should be pardoned , and this b.s, of 5 years is nothing but b.s.bubkiss you are loco and i have noticed you on other answers and you are consistently loco, do you pride your self in being anti American ?.
on had you been a combat vet your attitude would be far different, I damned sure know that,Iwas there,
Pescado5, I like to hear some one who has some common sense and you hit it and I feel a good person,
after 23 years as a marine 2 trips to Lebanon, I feel I should get retirement from Israel since we have fought their damned wars for them so long while they sit on their arses and laugh at us, as" Ariel Sharon said , we own America", and I damned sure agree,
it sure is disappointing to hear our country men who seem to be against us at ever turn and especially when we need them, I have asked my self many times "am I fighting on the right side? and I am still asking the same question seeing how your damned freedom is what we were fighting for , as many of us will never be free, so I say screw you

Answer 7

Which crimes are you referring to if under orders they should not be held responsible is the traditional view although I think they should all be held for war crimes in the Iraq debacle.
Bush lied to seize power and now they have no recourse?
What an atrocious pity is the ignorance of the ugly
American paranoid in an illegal war . Might still should not make right ever and the unbridled power of our govt is shameless proof the power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely whether pusillanimous or otherwise!

Answer 8

Are you asking if they should pardon the marines?

Which marines for what crimes? I think they should all be prosecuted on a case by case basis. If they're found innocent, then so be it. If guilty, they should be punished. Why should they get a pardon without a fair trial?

Answer 9

No, I don't think those Marines should be pardoned at all. Our country has always stood for, and still claims to stand for, fair and equal treatment for all individuals, and we have always had a strict policy against war crimes committed by our soldiers. We are a country who, by our actions, claims to have the moral dignity and fortitude to tell other countries what is right and wrong, and we act militarily on those opinions when we see fit, to intervene. That being said, it is not at all fair for us to commit similar crimes against humanity, to what we claim to despise from other countries, and do not tolerate from other countries.

If our soldiers are allowed to do these things, without reprimand from our government, we are showing the world that we truly do not stand for what we say we stand for. It is obvious that we are in enough trouble in that sense, as it stands now. We need to make an example out of these soldiers, to the world, and show them we mean what we say, and that we stand for what we say we stand for. Period. Regardless of the circumsances, and regardless of the outcome for those individuals.

Answer 10

I can't condone killing non-combatants, but (being a veteran myself) I can totally understand why and how it happens. A soldier can only stand seeing his comrades killed (and in a guerilla war like Iraq, you can't tell if you're being shot at or bombed by their military or their civilians) before something is going to snap; it's a precursor to PTSD, which a lot of these boys in Iraq are going to be dealing with somewhere down the line. Trust me, it's going to be an epidemic!