Panetta calls for new inquiry into Marine photo

WASHINGTON — After complaints by Jewish leaders, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta told the Marine Corps on Friday to re-investigate and take appropriate action against the Marine snipers who posed with a logo resembling a notorious Nazi symbol.

Marine Commandant James Amos apologized for the photo taken in September 2010 in Afghanistan.

An initial inquiry concluded that the troops would not be disciplined because there was no malicious intent. The Marines mistakenly believed the "SS" in the shape of white lightning bolts on the blue flag were a nod to sniper scouts — not members of Hitler's special unit that murdered millions of Jews, Catholics, gypsies and others, a spokeswoman at Camp Pendleton, Calif., said.