By Bill Gertz INSIDE THE RING

Washington Post

Former Marine Corps Lt. Ilario Pantano, who was falsely accused and later cleared of murder charges in the deaths of Iraqi civilians during military operations, on Thursday will launch a new web site designed to support U.S. civilian and military intelligence professionals.

"This is an online advocacy effort for the American people to show their support for the intelligence community and its professionals," Mr. Pantano told Inside the Ring.

The site was prompted in part by the Obama Justice Department's launch of a new investigation into purported abuses by intelligence officers involved in interrogations of detainees.

The Web site, StandwithIntelligence.com, states: "This purely political decision is damaging not only to the intelligence community, but the safety of us all, especially in the face of global terrorism.  We, the people, must stand with the unsung heroes who are defending this country and our families from harm," the introduction statement says. We can still turn the tide by publicly opposing this travesty."

The web site also honors Mike Spann, the retired Marine officer and CIA official who was killed in Afghanistan on Nov. 25, 2001, the first casualty in the war on terrorism after the Sept. 11 attacks.

Johnny Spann, Mike's father, stated in a letter to Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. that he was very concerned about the Justice Department investigation of intelligence officers who interrogated detainees.

"Career prosecutors determined four years ago that no other criminal investigations were warranted," Mr. Spann stated.  "Sir, it is no accident that our homeland has not been attacked since 9/11," he said. "We have brave men and women doing hard things in dark places and we, the American people and government, must stand behind those who willingly risk their lives doing dangerous jobs to protect our freedom.  Intelligence professionals and their families must know that our government supports them at home and abroad, in good times and bad," he said. "We need to know that the sacrifices made by them and their families were not in vain."

The [Justice] Department's decision to launch a criminal investigation of the intelligence officers "will help al Qaeda and all other enemies of the United States to commit their horrible acts against Americans and others," Mr. Spann said.

Mr. Pantano said the goal of the web site is to inform the intelligence community that "American people support them."

In announcing the investigation in August, Mr. Holder said available information "warrants opening a preliminary review into whether federal laws were violated with the interrogation of specific detainees at overseas locations."  He also said: "The Department of Justice will not prosecute anyone who acted in good faith and within the scope of the legal guidance given by the Office of Legal Counsel regarding the interrogation of detainees."

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