Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=09-27-04

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE= SOLDIERS CHARGED (L/S)

NUMBER=2-319286

BYLINE= NICK SIMEONE

DATELINE= PENTAGON

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

HEADLINE: Two More Soldiers Charged with Murder in Iraq

INTRO: Two more U.S. soldiers in Iraq have been charged with murder in the death of an Iraqi civilian. At the Pentagon, Correspondent Nick Simeone tells us the charges come less than a week after two other soldiers were charged with murder in the deaths of three other Iraqis.

TEXT: In Baghdad, military Spokesman Lt. Colonel James Hutton is offering few details about this latest wrongful death case, citing an on-going investigation into the circumstances. But these latest murder charges as well as those of premeditated murder announced against two other U.S. soldiers last week both involve personnel from the Army's First Cavalry Division.

/// HUTTON ACT ///

"These alleged incidents are unrelated."

/// END ACT ///

On Sunday, the military announced an American soldier in Iraq received a dishonorable discharge and has been sentenced to 25 years in prison after pleading guilty to murdering an Iraqi National Guard soldier earlier this year.

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And, in a separate development, officials at Fort Bragg, North Carolina say the woman seen in newspapers and on television around the world posing with naked Iraqi detainees at Abu Ghraib prison will face a court martial on 19 charges stemming from her alleged role in the prison abuse scandal.

U.S. military spokesman Colonel Billy Buckner says the trial of 21-year-old army private Lynndie England will begin in January.

/// BUCKNER ACT ///

"The investigation is completed and now we're going to begin the court martial process. The judge also set the trial date for the 17th of January which will last approximately two weeks."

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Lynndie England was pictured posing with a pyramid of naked Iraqi detainees and had come to symbolize the prison abuse scandal. While prosecutors calls this a case of misconduct, she maintains she is innocent, telling reporters earlier this year her superiors had ordered her to:

/// ENGLAND ACT ///

"Stand there, give the 'thumb's up', smile, stand behind all the naked Iraqis in the pyramid, take a picture.

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Lynndie England is one of seven low level reservists facing charges in connection with abusing Iraqi prisoners. Investigations have singled out several Army generals for criticism but no one higher in the military chain of command is so far facing criminal charges. (SIGNED)

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