Mephisto2

It is real. Check out the link to Marine Corp Times online. Here's an extract:

"Boudreaux is a reservist with Headquarters and Service Company, 3rd Battalion, 23rd Marines, according to Capt. Jeff Pool, a Marine Forces Reserve spokesman. The New Orleans-based infantry unit deployed to the Kut area of Iraq in May and returned home in mid-September.

Pool said the command began an investigation shortly after it received the photo via e-mail several weeks ago.

Investigating officers have spoken with Boudreaux and are working to determine whether the claims on the sign are true and what, if any, charges to bring against him, Pool said. Investigation results were not expected to be released for another week or two, Marines Forces Reserve spokesman Capt. Patrick Kerr said April 8."

Why? Would you pass on the "momentary lapse in judgement" that caused a driver to crash a car whilst speeding? Or a robber to pull the trigger on a gun during a hold-up?

In Nothern Ireland during the Troubles, there were soldiers who were convicted of murder for shooting civilians in situations that make this look farcical. Their "momentary lapse[s] in judgement" cost them years in prison and rightly so.

Oh, and for the record, if this was "momentary" then I'm a fucking flying pink elephant who invented the internet AND Coca-Cola.

1) He convinced the kids to pose with him
2) He wrote the sign
3) He posed with that smart-ass grin and thumbs up
4) He got someone to take the picture
5) He presumably mailed the picture to some friends ("Hey, look at me... I'm fighting to free Iraq from oppression and spread the good will of the United States!")


Momentary my ass.

If he brought the Marines into disrepute by a systematic and planned set of actions, he should be fired.

Plain and simple.


Mr Mephisto