One of the real travesties is that, while Ilario Pantano has been twice exonerated (once in a military proceeding, and more recently via an exhumation of the remains of the two Iraqi Islamic radicals and a scientific forensic study) the local North Carolina media still hold the story hostage, perpetuating a lie by the sin of omission. I called a Pat Gannon, who covers this beat for the Star-News, and asked him why this major story has not been reported. He said he was holding it for use closer to the election. Why? This is not about politics. It's about truth and honor. It is pure yellow journalism.and cruel in the extreme. Pat is an honorable man. Who is pressuring him to do this?   He should ashamed. Verne Strickland.