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February 10, 2012 in Nation/World
Marines in Afghanistan posed with Nazi SS symbol
Official says scout snipers didn’t intend racial statement
This September 2010 photo posted recently on the Internet shows Marines in Helmand province, Afghanistan, posing with a Nazi symbol.
(Full-size photo)
SAN DIEGO – The U.S. Marine Corps is dealing with fallout from the revelation that a group of Marines based at Camp Pendleton, Calif., and deployed to Afghanistan posed for a picture in front of a flag bearing a Nazi symbol.
The Marine Corps confirmed that the Marines pictured in the photo, which surfaced on the Internet, were part of one of its scout sniper teams deployed in Sangin province in 2010. The photo shows the Marines posing in front of a U.S. flag with a flag bearing the Nazi SS symbol underneath.
Lt. Col. Stewart Upton said in a statement that the scout snipers had been “addressed” concerning the issue.
In a statement, the Marine Corps said, “Those involved acknowledged that the symbol could be misinterpreted and is not in keeping with our Marine Corps ethos and values.”
The Military Religious Freedom Foundation, an advocacy group, sent a letter Thursday to Gen. James Amos, commandant of the Marine Corps, calling for the photos to be removed from the Internet and for everyone involved in the incident to be court-martialed.
“We’ve seen everything, but this literally astonishes us,” said the group’s president, Michael Weinstein. “This is a felony; this is absolutely horrible in the worst degree.”
Marine officials said those involved were not Nazi sympathizers.
Col. John Guthrie with the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force’s office of inspector general said his office became aware of the photograph in November and received confirmation from a commanding officer in Afghanistan that the personnel were part of the 1st Reconnaissance Battalion out of Camp Pendleton.
Guthrie said in a statement that the use of “SS runes” was “not acceptable.”
“Some Scout Snipers have unfortunately used the ‘SS runes’ in the past as a symbol for their elite organization and not intended for racial connotations or discrimination,” he wrote.
Stocks plummet as outlook in Europe dims 
Jeffrey_Grey on February 10 at 5:33 a.m.
It’s a very unimpressive sniper who could shoot himself so squarely in his own foot.
Pull your heads out and look around, guys. Stupid decisions like this significantly detract from your ability to carry out your mission by turning the locals against you for no good reason.
Coffee on February 10 at 9:32 a.m.
Now if they were to use a Star of David or Cross the locals would have been upset, but symbols that look similar to Nazi symbols most likely not. Remember the Nazi were killing a race of people they want destroyed.
I think they should have picked a different symbol, but make sure it is not associated with any minority group and does not offend the right wing or left wing. On second thought better not use anything.
The_Seer on February 10 at 9:44 a.m.
Coffee: How about they keep their heads down, do their jobs and quit embarrassing us?
The level of professionalism in the military anymore is disgusting. This photograph is indicative of an attitude germinated at the top that filters down.
Coffee on February 10 at 10:00 a.m.
does not offend the right wing or left wing. On second thought better not use anything.
mtharves on February 10 at 10:31 a.m.
Maybe they could post a photo of the group urinating on the SS flag.
DHF on February 11 at 5:31 a.m.
Kind of hard to be politically correct when someone is trying to kill you. Maybe they should have put a small Steamship below the letters.