US Marines posed with banner of Nazi SS - Telegraph

The letter "S" has nothing to do with this, that's completely disingenuous and a straw man argument. No one has jumped to any conclusions, the Corps itself deemed it inappropriate:

In a statement the Corps said: "Certainly, the use of the 'SS runes' is not acceptable and scout snipers have been addressed concerning this issue. 'SS runes' are prohibited from use as a symbol or any other use."

Anyone that knows history knows the meaning of that symbol. I support the military, but these Marines are not above criticism.

It is a shame we dishonor our vets in such a way.

The actions of these Marines was inappropriate. My grandfather served in WWII and I find it offensive and disrespectful. They are the ones dishonoring our veterans, not the people who think there is no place for this kind of thing in our military.

Oh my hate runs rampant.

Clearly. When it comes to apologists for those using neo-Nazi symbolism, the feeling is mutual.

But because some whiners cried it is now not appropiate.

About that "whiner" you mentioned?

The individual who reported the incident to the Marine Corps' inspector general was Iraq war veteran Waitman Beorn. "Beorn [is] a visiting history professor at Loyola University New Orleans, also a Fulbright and Guggenheim fellowship recipient who teaches at the National Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington. Dr. Beorn's research on Nazis and genocide is informed by his military background: He is a West Point graduate and former officer who served as a scout platoon leader in Iraq from 2003-04."

I was quite pleased with the response I got from the [colonel in charge of the First Marine Expeditionary Force's investigative office]. He seemed to be taking this very seriously and searching for those involved, as well as in educating the other scout snipers about the inappropriateness of this. I thought that using the incident as the basis for a class in the 1st Marine Division was an excellent response. I do want to highlight the response of the IG here. I was surprised by the speed with which they acted and the seriousness with which they appeared to take it.

The only part of the Marine Corps response that is a little troubling is the automatic assumption that these Marines had no idea what symbol they were appropriating. For example, from CNN: "They determined that the Marines in the photo were ignorant of the connection of this symbol to the Holocaust and monumental atrocities associated with Nazi Germany." I have a hard time believing that. One or two Marines, okay. But all of them, including their leadership?

I think our public needs to realize that this is not a case of the "liberal media" going after our brave men and women in uniform. Symbols are important. They send messages. These messages are important. It doesn't matter what the intent behind the use of the symbols was or what the snipers intended them to stand for. Some symbols simply have pretty solid meanings. For example, the swastika was not always a Nazi symbol, sadly. But no one would look at its use now and assume it was a reference to ancient India and that it was unfair to criticize whoever was using it. As a historian, of course, I would say this is another reason that knowing the historical provenance of images and ideas is important.

Exclusive: Marines' Nazi-Flag Whistleblower Comes Forward

To say their message is one of white supremacy and hate is ignorant. Black bikers sport the Iron cross. I've even seen one with the every symbol in question here.

Your rationalization is ludicrous. It's a neo-Nazi symbol no matter who's wearing it.

Camp Pendleton spokesman, Master Gunnery Sgt. Mark Oliva, said he did not know where the flag came from but it was likely the property of one of the Marines in the photograph.

FOX News - Marine Corps says snipers posted with Nazi SS symbol in Afghanistan