|
His organization released another photo showing a Marine and his rifle with the "SS" logo. According to the Marine Corps Times, embedded electronic information in the image shows that it was released by the Corps in 2004 and taken at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center at Twentynine Palms, Calif. Two Marines in it were with a scout sniper platoon. The newspaper said that suggests the practice is more widespread and that the logo's use is meant to signify "scout sniper," a position exclusive to the Corps. The Army has scouts and snipers, but considers the positions to be separate. Weinstein said more needs to be done to stop the use of the logo. "This shameful display of SS `lightning bolts' by U.S. service personnel enrages our regional allies, emboldens the extremist Islamist forces with whom we are contending, and eviscerates good order, morale, and discipline within the U.S. Marine Corps," said Weinstein, who founded the advocacy group that calls attention to violations by the military in regards to respecting people of all beliefs. Thanks to the Internet, the public throughout the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have witnessed inappropriate behavior by troops photographed or recorded on video in acts ranging from criminal to simply stupid. Outrage spread instantly in 2004 over the release of photos taken by a group of U.S. military police abusing inmates at the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq. They showed, among other graphic images, troops grinning and posing beside naked detainees stacked in a pyramid. In 2008, a Marine was kicked out of the service after being videotaped throwing a puppy off a cliff while on patrol in Iraq and joking as the animal yelped. Master Gunnery Sgt. Mark Oliva, a Camp Pendleton spokesman, said he did not know where the "SS" flag came from but it was likely the property of one of the Marines in the photograph. "With this getting so much attention, I'm pretty sure every commander is going to be taking a closer look at their Marines and making sure they meet the highest standards of discipline," Oliva said. The photograph appeared on the blog for a military weapons company called Knight's Armament in Titusville, Fla. The company did not respond to emails or phone messages left by The Associated Press seeking comment.
[Associated
Press;
Copyright 2012 The Associated
Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
News | Sports | Business | Rural Review | Teaching & Learning | Home and Family | Tourism | Obituaries
Community |
Perspectives
|
Law & Courts |
Leisure Time
|
Spiritual Life |
Health & Fitness |
Teen Scene
Calendar
|
Letters to the Editor