March, 28 2005	Monday	17 Safar 1426

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WASHINGTON, March 27: Army officials have decided not to prosecute 17 soldiers involved in the deaths of prisoners in Iraq and Afghanistan, a military report says. Military investigators recommended courts-martial for the soldiers in the cases of three prisoner deaths for charges ranging from making false statements to murder. Officers rejected those recommendations, ruling that the soldiers lawfully used force or didn’t understand the rules for using force, or that there was not enough evidence to prosecute.

Eleven US soldiers are facing murder or other charges involving the deaths of detainees in Iraq or Afghanistan. The Army Criminal Investigation Command released a report detailing the cases of 27 detainees killed in custody in Iraq and Afghanistan between August 2002 and November 2004.

Twenty-four cases encompassed the 27 deaths; 16 investigations have been closed and eight remain open, according to the army report released. Five cases were referred to other agencies, including deaths involving Navy and Marine troops and CIA operatives.

“We take each and every death very seriously and are committed and sworn to investigating each case with the utmost professionalism and thoroughness,” said Chris Grey, a spokesman for the Criminal Investigation Command.

Army investigators turn over their recommendations to commanders of the soldiers involved when they finish their investigations. Those commanders can decide whether to bring criminal charges against the accused soldiers.

In one case, commanders decided not to file recommended criminal charges against 11 soldiers involved in the death of a former Iraqi Army lieutenant-colonel in January 2004. An autopsy indicated the man died from blunt force injuries and asphyxia.—AP