Some 28 U.S. GIs Face Afghan Abuse Cases

[takumi]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20041014/ap_on_re_as/afghan_prisoner_abuse

WASHINGTON - Up to 28 U.S. soldiers face possible criminal charges in connection with the deaths of two prisoners at an American-run prison in Afghanistan (news - web sites) two years ago, the Army announced Thursday.

The most serious potential charges include involuntary manslaughter and maiming, the Army said in a statement.

Its announcement marked completion of a nearly 2-year-old investigation into the deaths. The Army's Criminal Investigation Division recommends various charges against the 28, with some facing more serious charges than others.

So far, only one person, a military police reservist, has actually been charged in connection the deaths. Sgt. James P. Boland of the Army Reserve's 377th Military Policy Company, based in Cincinnati, was charged Aug. 23 with assault and dereliction of duty.

. . .

[Catfight]

1. They hate us for our freedoms. n/t

[Stew225]

2. It's hard work. eom

[struggle4progress]

3. <snip> The number of soldiers named is the largest so far in any ...

... criminal probe of detainee abuse in Afghanistan and possibly in Iraq, officials said, although other probes are ongoing in both countries. <snip>

Probe of Afghan deaths names 28 U.S. soldiers
Military officials say some may face serious criminal charges
From Barbara Starr
CNN Washington Bureau
Thursday, October 14, 2004 Posted: 3:46 PM EDT (1946 GMT)
http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/asiapcf/10/14/afghan.probe/

[UpInArms]

4. related NYT article: U.S. Army Inquiry Implicates 28 Soldiers

U.S. Army Inquiry Implicates 28 Soldiers in Deaths of 2 Afghan Detainees

WASHINGTON, Oct. 14 - A newly completed Army criminal investigation has implicated 28 active-duty and reserve soldiers in the deaths of two Afghan men detained at the American air base at Bagram in December 2002, and describes potential offenses ranging from involuntary manslaughter to assault to conspiracy, the Army said Thursday.

One Pentagon official said five or six could face the most serious charges, a decision that now rests with the soldiers' commanders.

Those cited by the investigation include officers - the highest ranking are two captains - noncommissioned officers and enlisted soldiers, according to Pentagon officials familiar with the report. The names were not publicly disclosed.

The inquiry by the Army Criminal Investigation Command involved soldiers from two units deployed at the Bagram Control Point, a detention facility at an American base 40 miles north of Kabul. The Army Reserve unit was the 377th Military Police Company with headquarters at Cincinnati, and the active-duty unit was Company A of the 519th Military Intelligence Battalion, whose home is Fort Bragg, N.C.

After photographs of American soldiers abusing detainees at Abu Ghraib prison outside Baghdad drew global outrage, investigators learned that the 519th Military Intelligence Battalion had played a major role in setting up the prison's interrogation unit. The 519th was in charge of interrogations at the time of the homicides at Bagram, investigators found.

...more...

not just a few "bad apples" - a systemic illness that has infested our military - courtesy of the policies of this mal-administration.

:argh: