*EPF103 09/13/2004
Defense Dept. Report, September 13: Prison Abuse Investigations
(Forty-five individuals referred for courts-martial; Cruz found guilty) (310)

The Defense Department (DOD) issued a release September 10 noting that there will be more information forthcoming as a result of investigations into the Abu Ghraib prison abuse scandal, but nothing has suggested thus far that any responsible Department official "could conceivably have authorized or condoned" such abuses.

The statement was prompted by media inquiries driven by recent interviews with Seymour Hersh regarding his forthcoming book, "Chain of Command," about the war in Iraq and allegations about connections between a secret intelligence unit's involvement of prisoners abuse and other government officials.

The DOD release says Hersh's book apparently contains many "unsubstantiated allegations and inaccuracies" which he has based on unidentified sources. If any of these sources "wish to come forward and offer evidence to the contrary, the Department welcomes them to do so. There are several open investigations and we would certainly investigate their allegations without prejudice or hesitation," it stated.

Results have been released for 8 out of 11 investigations following 950 interviews conducted by investigators. Additionally, there have been 43 congressional briefings or hearings on the subject.

"Those responsible for criminal activities at Abu Ghraib or other detention facilities are being held accountable," according to the release. To date, 45 individuals have been referred for courts-martial. The tally reflects the fact that letters of reprimand have been issued for 12 general officers, and 23 soldiers have been administratively separated.

On September 11 the Multi-National Corps in Iraq reported that Specialist Armin Cruz pled guilty and was found guilty of violating the Uniform Code of Military Justices for conspiring to maltreat detainees in Abu Ghraib. He has been sentenced to eight months confinement, a reduction to private, and a bad conduct discharge.

(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

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