Pickpocket: The Department of Defense said the pictures appear to show U.S. soldiers in violation of the Uniform Code of Military Justice. The code outlines that it is a crime to mishandle remains
Many of the 41 shots ‘just too grisly to publish’ –Two pictures show a Marine pouring gasoline on the enemy remains, another two images show the Iraqi soldiers going up in flames while a fifth picture captures the charred bodies –Pentagon launches ‘probe’ 15 Jan 2014 Shocking images depicting U.S. soldiers burning the bodies of what appear to be Iraqi insurgents, have emerged today. The explosive photographs, reportedly taken in Fallujah in 2004, have already sparked a Marine Corps investigation. Two pictures show a Marine pouring what looks like gasoline on the remains of enemy soldiers and another two images appear to show the remains go up in flames. Two more capture the horrifically charred bodies.
‘The Marine Corps is currently investigating the veracity of these photos, circumstances involved, and if possible, the identities of the service members involved.
‘The findings from this investigation will determine whether we are able to move forward with any investigation into possible wrongdoing.’
Some have suggested the Marines may have been burning the remains as a sanitary measure.
However, Pentagon spokesman Army Col. Steven Warren said the proper handling of war remains is set by U.S. military regulation and that the actions depicted in the photos ‘are not what we expect from our service members.’
Cmdr Speaks said the deplorable acts depicted in the images are not representative of the millions of hardworking men and women who have served in the Middle East.
‘The actions depicted in these photos are not what we expect from our service members, nor do they represent the honorable and professional service of the more than 2.5 million Americans who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan,’ he told MailOnline.
In 2005 report, U.S. soldiers in Gumbad, Afghanistan were investigated for burning the bodies of two enemy fighters.
The men argued they set alight the corpses for hygienic reasons, after local citizens had not retrieved the bodies after 24 hours.
A report concluded that the action indicated poor judgement but was not a war crime.
It stated: ‘Based on the criminal investigation, there was no evidence to substantiate the allegation of desecration or any violation of the Law of War. However, there was evidence of poor decision-making and judgment, poor reporting and lack of knowledge and respect for local Afghan customs and tradition.’
Read more: Daily Mail