So does this end Pantanos saga???

http://www.washingtontimes.com/national/20050513-010030-2379r.htm

An investigating officer has recommended that the Marine Corps drop murder charges against 2nd Lt. Ilario Pantano, who shot to death two Iraqi insurgents a year ago during a raid on an insurgent hideout in the "Triangle of Death."

The 16-page report from Lt. Col. Mark E. Winn castigates as unreliable the prosecution's chief witness, Sgt. Daniel L. Coburn, whom Lt. Pantano had removed as squad leader weeks before the April 15, 2004 shooting.

"The government was not able to produce credible evidence or testimony that the killings were premeditated," Col. Winn wrote in his May 12 report, a copy of which was obtained today by The Washington Times.

"I think now [Sgt. Coburn] is in a position where he has told his story so many times, in so many versions that he cannot keep his facts straight anymore," Col. Winn wrote of the chief witness.

Col. Winn's decision follows a five-day pretrial hearing last month at Camp Lejeune, N.C., Lt. Pantano's home base. His role is to conduct the hearing and decide whether a court-martial is warranted.

The local TV news has just started, and they are discussing the latest news, about the fact that our local Air Fighter Wing is on the BRAC "realignment" list (which I just commented on a few minutes ago). This is still better than a complete base closure, but it will cost our area jobs, and will have an adverse impact on our communities. There may still be things that can be done... This looks like it's going to be a major issue throughout the country.