Marines posed with flag resembling Nazi SS logo in Afghanistan

[Eugene]

Source: msnbc.com

Marines posed with flag resembling Nazi SS logo in Afghanistan

By NBC News, msnbc.com and news services

SAN DIEGO -- The U.S. Marine Corps confirmed Thursday that a sniper team in Afghanistan posed for a photograph in front of a flag with a logo resembling that of the notorious Nazi SS.

Use of the SS symbol is not acceptable, and the Marine Corps has addressed the issue, Lt. Col. Stewart Upton said in a statement. He did not specify what action was taken.

Upton said the Marines in the photograph, posted on an Internet blog, are no longer with the unit. The picture was taken in September 2010 in Sangin province, Afghanistan.

The photo shows a flag with what appear to be the letters "SS" in the shape of jagged lightning bolts. The symbol resembles that used by SS units in World War II.

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Read more: http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/02/09/10364262-marines-posed-with-flag-resembling-nazi-ss-logo-in-afghanistan

[Old and In the Way]

1. Is it possible that 10 years of continued deployment in war zones can create these types

of group behaviors? It's pretty well known that PTSD can have a negative impact on lots of individual soldiers...but I wonder if this type of group behavior can become dominant from too much time spent fighting an unknown enemy with unclear mission goals?

[appleannie1]

2. That stands for scout snipers and has for years.

Here are some comments from the Marine Times

As a Marine veteran with a son currently serving our beloved Corps, I am getting a little tired of seeing the rush to judgment by our media. Shame on the MCT. Check your facts before you besmirch our Brothers. Lightning strikes from out of nowhere, like a Marine Sniper, hence the lightning bolt SS.
Reply · 2 · Like · Follow Post · about an hour ago

John · Platoon Sergeant at United States Marine Corps
I have this tattooed on my calf, I'm a Sniper not a Nazi. I have had this tattoo for the last 13 of my 17 years of being a Marine, way to pick up on old news Marine Corps Times.
Reply · 2 · Like · Follow Post · about an hour ago

Scott
The explanation is the "SS" stands for "Scout Snipers," which is what they are. The "SS" symbol, which is similar to that of the former Nazi unit, is the similar to the the unofficial symbol of the Scout Snipers. It has been this way for a very long time. What there is no explanation for is the fact that this is suddenly a story.

[Owlet]

3. I guess marines don't study history

or they'd be aware of just how offensive that symbol is to many people.