US Military Identifies All Four 'Urinating' Marines.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) January 16, 2012 -- All four US marines who were seen in a video apparently urinating on dead Afghans have been identified by US military investigators, US media say. Two of the men have already been interviewed by the US Navy's criminal investigation branch. The names of the men, who are thought to be Marine snipers, have not been released.

It is understood they served in Helmand province and were from a battalion based at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. US media reported that the unit belonged to the 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment.

The battalion has been deployed to a wide range of combat and peacekeeping situations, including Iraq, Afghanistan, Guantanamo Bay and fighting wildfires in the US state of Idaho. The video, which was posted online, appears to show the troops standing over the bodies of several Afghans, at least one of whom is covered in blood.

A man's voice is heard saying: "Have a great day, buddy." The clip has been called "disgusting" and "inhuman" by both US and Afghan officials. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton expressed her "dismay" at the images, while Afghan President Hamid Karzai requested the "most severe punishment" for those responsible.

In an address to military personnel at Fort Bliss, Texas, on Thursday, US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said the video could even jeopardize the prospects for US-Afghan peace talks. "The danger is that this kind of video can be misused in many ways to undermine what we are trying to do in Afghanistan and the possibility of reconciliation,'' Mr Panetta said.

The Taliban have indicated that while they condemn the video, its release would not affect the political process. Fears that widespread outrage in Afghanistan could have boiled over into protests after Friday prayers have so far proved unfounded.

But one Kabul resident, 20-year-old construction worker Waheedullah, who like many Afghans uses only one name, told AFP news agency: "This is an absolutely savage act and condemnable in any religion." It is not clear who released the footage, which first appeared on YouTube. It has not been verified, but correspondents say that it appears to be authentic.

The US has about 20,000 Marines deployed in Afghanistan, based mostly in the provinces of Kandahar and Helmand. In total, about 90,000 US troops are on the ground in Afghanistan

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