US marine exonerated for song about killing Iraqis

The US military will not punish a marine who performed an obscenity-laced song to a cheering crowd of fellow troops in Iraq making light of killing Iraqis

The US military will not punish a marine who performed an obscenity-laced song to a cheering crowd of fellow troops in Iraq making light of killing Iraqis, the Marine Corps said today.

The marines two weeks ago launched a preliminary inquiry into whether Corporal Joshua Belile, who returned home from Iraq in March, violated military law in singing the song, a four-minute video of which was posted on the Internet.

In the song, titled Hadji Girl, Belile sang to fellow troops at a base in Iraq about encountering an Iraqi woman and her family. I grabbed her little sister and put her in front of me. As the bullets began to fly, the blood sprayed from between her eyes, and then I laughed maniacally, he sang.

Story continues below this ad

‘‘The preliminary inquiry has been concluded. No punitive action will be taken against Corporal Belile. And there will be no further investigation,’’ said Maj Shawn Haney, a spokeswoman at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point in North Carolina.

Belile, who is stationed at Marine Corps Air Station New River in North Carolina and is a member of a band called the Sweater Kittenz, this month apologised if the song hurt anyone’s feelings.

He told the Daily News in Jacksonville, the song was ‘‘supposed to be funny’’, with lyrics based on lines from the 2004 satirical movie Team America: World Police.

PM Modi addresses the nation ahead of the rollout of new GST rates.

PM Modi says ‘GST savings festival’ begins soon: how household budgets are set for boost

Explained49 min ago

Ahead of the rollout of GST 2.0 effective from September 22, companies have announced lower prices for over 375 common-use goods. The government has urged corporates to pass on the benefits to consumers, resulting in cheaper prices for FMCG products, milk, butter, cheese, pickles, jams, and ice creams. Other items like shampoo, soap, cement, durable goods, and cars may also see a reduction.

View all shorts

Live Blog