In an appearance on “Imus in the Morning” on the Fox Business Network, former Navy SEAL officer Leif Babin criticized the reaction to a video of U.S. Marines urinating on dead Taliban, pointing out that the media focuses on that while ignoring the sacrifices of fallen soldiers.
“The reaction to this is quite frustrating, I think, for everyone who has been a combat soldier, Marine, or just on the ground, and especially as a combat leader,” Babin said. “You know, you have to walk a mile in these guys’ shoes and understand where they’re coming from. Was this immature behavior? Absolutely. Does it deserve a reprimand? Sure. Are they war criminals? Absolutely not.”
Babin, who has served three tours in Iraq, earned a Silver Star, two Bronze Stars and a Purple Heart, and is still serving in the Navy Reserve, criticized the Obama administration officials that have called for prosecution of those Marines.
“You have press conferences, I mean, from the secretary of state. Secretary of defense-level calling it a despicable act, calling for the prosecution of these guys — ‘They will be held accountable in the strongest terms possible,’” he said. “And you know I wish we made as big a deal out of the servicemen that have given their lives in this conflict. At least 13 so far this year, and we’re not even hearing the names of those guys. They are just running sound bites of these Marines urinating on Taliban soldiers.”
Watch:
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