The video, which was posted on YouTube and other websites, shows four men in camouflage Marine combat uniforms urinating on the bodies of three dead Taliban.
One of them jokes: "Have a nice day, buddy." Another makes a lewd joke about a shower.
"While we have not yet verified the origin or authenticity of this video, the actions portrayed are not consistent with our core values and are not indicative of the character of the Marines in our Corps," the Marines said in a statement.
"This matter will be fully investigated."
Two US military officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the video appeared to be authentic at first look, however Reuters could not independently verify the video or its source.
A Muslim civil rights group in the United States condemned the alleged desecration of corpses in a letter to Defense Secretary Leon Panetta.
"Any guilty parties must be punished to the full extent allowed by the Uniform Code of Military Justice and by relevant American laws," the Council on American-Islamic Relations said in the letter, a copy of which was sent to media organisations including Reuters.
The video could aggravate anti-American sentiment in Afghanistan after a decade of a war that seen other cases of abuse. The US military has been prosecuting soldiers from the Army's 5th Stryker Brigade on charges of murdering unarmed Afghan civilians while deployed in Kandahar province, in 2010.
The Marine video release comes at a sensitive moment, with Washington trying to promote Afghan reconciliation as US troops gradually withdraw from the country.
US Ambassador Marc Grossman is due to visit Afghanistan and Qatar next week for talks with the Afghan and Qatar governments.
At the Pentagon, Captain John Kirby said the defense department was "deeply troubled" by the video.
"Whoever it is, and whatever the circumstances - which we know is under investigation - it is egregious behaviour and unacceptable for a member of the military," Kirby, a Pentagon spokesman, said.
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The behavior depicted in the video does not represent or define the U.S. Armed Forces, and is not acceptable to us. ISAF and the US military strongly condemn the actions depicted in the video, which appear to have been conducted by a small group of U.S. individuals, who apparently are no longer serving in Afghanistan. This disrespectful act is inexplicable and not in keeping with the high moral standards we expect of coalition forces. Nevertheless, this behavior dishonors the sacrifices and core values of every service member representing the fifty nations of the coalition. Therefore, a United States Criminal Investigatory agency has launched an investigation. It will be thorough and any individuals with confirmed involvement will be held fully accountable.
its war these guys we send over there to kill. of course stuff like this happens on both sides. it is appalling to see from a public point of view. i think they should be punished not for the act of urination but for posting it for everyone to see. that is a horrible thing to do but as Americans we are shielded from the truth of war and should look to enlighten ourselves as to what are nation subjects or military too. but to hold the entire military responsible and mock or down play there efforts to bring civility and democracy to a country or countries torn by war for decades (civil and foreign) is ignorance. just my opinion
I don't condone the disrespect, but on my right hand, what is more disrespectful than severing the head of a non-combatant and video taping for the world to see? These are dead combatants, no doubt they have done the same thing to deceased U.S. and Allied troops. Bottom line, it's done and over with. Long live Israel!!
Where are the followers of so called "CIVILIZED NATION"?
This just the tip of the ice burg the american army in secret condones all such practices but on the suffice condoms these people, Every time such a incident comes to light there statement is this is not the norm but it still does not stop are we to believe most american soldiers who come from the worlds leading and advanced nation and who regularly preach to the rest of the world on morals and ethics are BRAIN DEAD no its because they know they will get away with it and this has been happening with ALL such atrocities, And lastly but not least on the so called 9/11 matter ALL the muslims where blamed for it should we not know blame ALL americans for this.....
For whom the bell tolls?
US army now relying on convicts to enlist and go to thier dirty wars all over the world, this video doesnt surprise me at all, but i find it low down, soldiers at thier worst in the battle field...........bunch of trigger happy cartoons
disgusting.............
This is one of those few incidents that surfaced. It is a norm of US to kill anyone in the world and declare him terrorist.
Where are the usual trolls?
Posing as saints, we all know the truth about decency in US Army ranks. From Abu Gharib, Qila Jangi, Bagram and now this event, the anti Muslim sentiments has no limits.
And they call themselves champions of human rights and how they were so respectful that they threw Bin Ladens body in the sea ASAP to comply with Sharia. Hypocrites!!