Rick Perry Slams Obama Over Afghanistan Video

Texas Governor and GOP Presidential hopeful Rick Perry accused the Obama administration of “over-the-top rhetoric” and “disdain for the military” for what they have said about the video with shows four US Marines urinating on dead Taliban soldiers.

Perry, speaking on CNN’s State of the Union said the marines involved should be reprimanded but not prosecuted on criminal charges.

He was quoted as saying,

“Obviously, 18 and 19-year-old kids make stupid mistakes all too often. And that’s what’s occurred here. What’s really disturbing to me is the kind of over-the-top rhetoric from this administration and their disdain for the military.”

Senator John McCain, the top Republican on the Senate armed services committee, and 2008 presidential candidate expressed a concern that the images could damage the ability of the US military to win the war.

He said to the same CNN program,

“The Marine Corps prides itself that we don’t lower ourselves to the level of the enemy. So it makes me sad more than anything else, because … I can’t tell you how wonderful these people [marines] are. And it hurts their reputation and their image.”

Defense Secretary, Leon Panetta, and President Obama have both demanded swift and severe punishment for the Marines if found to have committed the act. Panetta said the video could be used by the Taliban to undermine Afghan peace talks.

The video in question shows the four marines standing over three obviously dead Taliban soldiers. After two of them urinate on the bodies, one says “how you feeling now buddy?”.

Desecrating the dead is a violation of the Geneva Convention.

How do you feel about the video of US Marines urinating on the Taliban dead bodies?

Watch the video here.