"What is really disturbing to me is the over-the-top rhetoric from this administration and their disdain for the military it appears," Perry said.

i'm going to find Harry Anslingers grave and go piss on his headstone. then leave a Rick Perry campaign sign at the foot of the burial site because hey - why the f*ck not, right?

I don't approve of what they did....but I can empathize with them and I believe criminal charges are excessive.

These kids have lost friends in battle, pissing on the dead enemy was probably cathartic for them.

He did not say they shouldn't get in trouble for pissing on the corpses - he said they should be punished, but it shouldn't result in criminal charges. I think Santorum's a tool, but malign him for the actually stupid things he says, not by making shiat up.

As a former military member, IMHO, this is article 15 material. Give them non-judicial punishment, restrict them to base and make them weed and seed every weekend for a couple months.

'Scuse me, that was Perry, not Santorum. Geez, the crazy's just running together this campaign, innit?

wait, isnt dick perry's kid gay??

The difference is it's not illegal to be gay in the military.

A bunch of macho dudes whip out their penises and start up a golden shower scene? Sounds like the kind of thing Perry is afraid gays do when "openly" serving in the military.

slayer199: I don't approve of what they did....but I can empathize with them and I believe criminal charges are excessive.

These kids have lost friends in battle, pissing on the dead enemy was probably cathartic for them.

They should be severely punished for being stupid enough to film it.

edmo: The difference is it's not illegal to be gay in the military..

i've always wondered about that. I mean...how can you take a 'moral stance' about gays in the military when the entire JOB of the military is to kill people and break stuff. And killing people and breaking stuff is rather a larger moral problem than what two consenting adults do on their own time.

PizzaJedi81: Even if they didn't know about it from Geneva, they should have known about it from learning about military law, which, and I wouldn't mind being corected if I'm wrong, is part of a soldier's training, no?

Based on the actions displayed in the past few years, I would say they've been Cliff Noting that section of Basic.

PizzaJedi81: Weaver95: edmo: The difference is it's not illegal to be gay in the military..

i've always wondered about that. I mean...how can you take a 'moral stance' about gays in the military when the entire JOB of the military is to kill people and break stuff. And killing people and breaking stuff is rather a larger moral problem than what two consenting adults do on their own time.

Well, it's a pretty wide stance, to be honest.

nicely played.

PizzaJedi81: Weaver95: PizzaJedi81: Weaver95: edmo: The difference is it's not illegal to be gay in the military..

i've always wondered about that. I mean...how can you take a 'moral stance' about gays in the military when the entire JOB of the military is to kill people and break stuff. And killing people and breaking stuff is rather a larger moral problem than what two consenting adults do on their own time.

Well, it's a pretty wide stance, to be honest.

nicely played.

Sometimes the stars line up just right, ya know? :-)

Ia! Ia!

slayer199: I don't approve of what they did....but I can empathize with them and I believe criminal charges are excessive.

These kids have lost friends in battle, pissing on the dead enemy was probably cathartic for them.

They belong in jail.

Just because a criminal act is cathartic for someone doesn't mean they should get a pass. Savages. Don't unleash them on the people of this country -- they'll end up being rapists or something. As many of them do, anyway.

slayer199: These kids have lost friends in battle, pissing on the dead enemy was probably cathartic for them.

Well, as long as they feel better, that's all that really matters.

It's the "boys will be boys" defense.

Also: if this country found video of Taliban soldiers pissing on the corpses of American soldiers, the vast majority would go absolutely ballistic. Why shouldn't we be furious and disgusted at what these guys did in the same way? Because we declared the Taliban the enemy? That doesn't mean their dead don't deserve a modicum of respect.

PizzaJedi81: What's truly sad to me is that, with minimal searching, you can find people whose ideological views will lead them to the conclusion that what these boys (Yes, boys.) did is right and honorable.

Well, let's hope when the sociopaths snap at home, it's on some of those people, not anyone who has a sense of morality and decency.

Once someone can bring themselves to do something that deplorable, they're pretty much beyond help.

PizzaJedi81: What's truly sad to me is that, with minimal searching, you can find people whose ideological views will lead them to the conclusion that what these boys (Yes, boys.) did is right and honorable.

Most will purport to be Christians.

They may be just kids, but tjey swore to uphold the Constitution. By violating a treaty we swore to (Geneva Convention) they have violated that oath and put their fellow servicemembers at risk. Criminal charges are warranted.

moonscatter: They may be just kids, but tjey swore to uphold the Constitution. By violating a treaty we swore to (Geneva Convention) they have violated that oath and put their fellow servicemembers at risk. Criminal charges are warranted.

They're not "kids" -- they're of legal age and adults. Calling them anything else softens the reality of their actions.

I agree with you otherwise, but I really have a problem with language calling them boys and kids. They were well aware of their actions.

slayer199: I don't approve of what they did....but I can empathize with them and I believe criminal charges are excessive.

These kids have lost friends in battle, pissing on the dead enemy was probably cathartic for them.

The whole Taliban Afghanistan situation was caused by Reagan. Maybe a video of skullfarking his corpse would be understandable.

idiot.

If they're just kids, what are they doing in the military? Are they kids or are they adults?

WorldCitizen: If they're just kids, what are they doing in the military? Are they kids or are they adults?

if they're 'kids' then why is the US deploying child solders?

Weaver95: WorldCitizen: If they're just kids, what are they doing in the military? Are they kids or are they adults?

if they're 'kids' then why is the US deploying child solders?

Poor bastards aren't even house-broken yet.

Seriously though, throw them firmly under the bus. Do something tactically stupid, you may get shot, maimed or killed. Do something this morally disgusting and farking retarded, the consequences should be at least as serious. If for no other reason then endangering your fellow soldiers (real soldiers).

Occam's Chainsaw: PizzaJedi81: What's truly sad to me is that, with minimal searching, you can find people whose ideological views will lead them to the conclusion that what these boys (Yes, boys.) did is right and honorable.

Most will purport to be Christians.

I don't think religion needs to be a part of this criticism, unless the desecrating soldiers in question explicitly drew on religious reasons for what they did. I haven't seen any evidence this is the case--of course if someone has some please link to it.

slayer199: I don't approve of what they did....but I can empathize with them and I believe criminal charges are excessive.

These kids have lost friends in battle, pissing on the dead enemy was probably cathartic for them.

The Law of Armed Conflict and the Marine Corps beg to differ.

What's the deal with being named "Rick" that makes people assholes? Rick Perry, Rick Santorum, Rick Scott, Rick Berman. At least Cheney is honest and calls himself "Dick".

Ladies and Gentlemen, I present to you the G.O.P's finest!

Runs_With_Scissors_: slayer199: I don't approve of what they did....but I can empathize with them and I believe criminal charges are excessive.

These kids have lost friends in battle, pissing on the dead enemy was probably cathartic for them.

The Law of Armed Conflict and the Marine Corps beg to differ.

Also, the International Criminal Court begs to differ. They committed a blatant war crime, simple as that. At BEST, they deserve life in prison.

slayer199: I don't approve of what they did....but I can empathize with them and I believe criminal charges are excessive.

These kids have lost friends in battle, pissing on the dead enemy was probably cathartic for them.

Mmmmm, did they? Wasn't mentioned anyplace? Maybe they're just cocky sniper asshats who shot the fighters from a distance then pissed on their trophies? Would you say the same thing if they had cut off the dead fighters' junk? I recall similar arguments for My Lai back in the Vietnam War which I find unacceptable since the soldiers there were also killing little kids with their M-16s. Try a GIS on the My Lai massacre if you don't believe me.

What they did was wrong. I'm certain we would all be enraged if we saw a clip of Taliban fighters pissing on dead Marines. Now they have to pay the piper. Hopefully that's the only thing that'll come out of this sorry lack of military discipline on their part.

GAT_00: Also, the International Criminal Court begs to differ. They committed a blatant war crime, simple as that. At BEST, they deserve life in prison.

OK, over the top on the sentence, GAT_00. I'll just kick back and let the UCMJ run its course.

GAT_00: Runs_With_Scissors_: slayer199: I don't approve of what they did....but I can empathize with them and I believe criminal charges are excessive.

These kids have lost friends in battle, pissing on the dead enemy was probably cathartic for them.

The Law of Armed Conflict and the Marine Corps beg to differ.

Also, the International Criminal Court begs to differ. They committed a blatant war crime, simple as that. At BEST, they deserve life in prison.

Without a shadow of a doubt desecration of the dead is a very serious offense. We are trying to win the hearts and minds and this shiat does the opposite.

But life imprisonment? They did not murder nor did they rape.

AirForceVet: Hopefully that's the only thing that'll come out of this sorry

You will never now. Think of Islamic anti-American sentiment as a big ol'bucket of stuff the US has done over the years used to justify radical extremist teachings. What's been added to that bucket is pretty symbolically obvious. Whatever retaliation may or man not happen, cannot be sourced to a single cause. I also hope this doesn't hurt America/American soldiers overall but who knows.

DarnoKonrad: It's not just 'wrong,' it's flat out illegal under the Geneva Conventions. I was under the impression soldiers were educated on this kinda thing -- beyond actually doing it, they filmed it.

Amazingly, these dumbass Marines provided the evidence to their own offenses. Guess they never heard of the UCMJ Article 31.

Yes, the military members are educated about the Geneva Conventions. Which makes them look even stupider.

DarnoKonrad, wait until the Marines charge them with offenses and violating what articles, then get back to us the maximum penalties under those articles. I seriously doubt they'll get death.

Even Lt. Calley in the Mi Lai massacre only got life, which Nixon pardoned.

AirForceVet: OK, over the top on the sentence, GAT_00. I'll just kick back and let the UCMJ run its course.

It really is as simple as that. It was a war crime. That Republicans are excusing this is simply wrong. The sentence for war crimes should be exceptionally harsh. A two year old is capable of realizing that this is wrong. I have zero sympathy and wish to give zero lenience to these criminals.

This badly hurts our standing in the world. The punishment needs to be strong.