Wednesday, October 27, 2010

GOP candidate killed two unarmed Iraqis in 2004

One Ilario Pantano, a Tea Party-backed Republican candidate for Congress in North Carolina's 7th District, was charged with murder after a 2004 incident when, as a lieutenant with a three-man platoon, he killed two unarmed Iraqis, firing 60 rounds, and then put a sign over the bodies stating the Marines are "no better friends, no worse enemies." A sergeant who was with him later complained and murder charges were filed, but they were later dismissed for lack of corroborating evidence.

Interestingly, Pantano's Democratic opponent isn't the one publicizing this history, but the Republican he beat in the primary, also a veteran who thinks the episode is shameful in its reflection on the US military and will ensure Pantano's well-deserved defeat, is doing that work.