It's a claim that is truly hard to believe:

The 23-year-old woman accused Smith, who had just participated in joint military exercises, of forcing himself on her in the back of a moving van after a night of drinking at the former U.S. naval base at Subic Bay. She claimed three Marines cheered him on, before he dumped her on the street with her pants around her ankles.

Smith, 21, of St. Louis, countered that the young woman was a willing participant.

Sure. Chicks dig it when guys fuck them in front of their buddies. It's even better to get tossed onto the street in an undressed state.

What's really sick is that Lance Cpl. Daniel Smith quite possibly believes this. He'll face is 40-year prison term -- oh, and let's not forget the $2,000 fine for "moral damages" -- thinking he's an innocent man.

The other three Marines were charged in the case, but were acquitted and immediately headed back to their unit in Okinawa, Japan, where they could still face military discipline.

Given the U.S. military's history regarding sexual assault cases, I'm not holding my breath.

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