Discipline recommended in troop Koran burning
Afghan demonstrators shout anti-U.S. slogans during a protest against Koran desecration in Kunduz, Afghanistan, Feb. 25, 2012. / AFP/Getty Images
(AP) WASHINGTON - A U.S. military investigation is recommending that as many as seven U.S. troops face administrative punishments, but not criminal charges, in the burning of Korans at a U.S. base in Afghanistan in February, The Associated Press has learned.
U.S. military officials said the classified report and recommendations for disciplinary action against the service members involved were delivered to the Pentagon more than a week ago. They have been turned over to the Army and Navy secretaries. No final decisions have been made.
According to the officials, one Navy service member and as many as six Army soldiers could face nonjudicial disciplinary actions, which can range from a letter in their file to docking their pay or assigning them additional duties.
The lack of any criminal charges is in line with early assertions from military officials that the incident, while regrettable, was a mistake. But it is likely to anger Afghans who were enraged by the burning. Some took to the streets across the country in deadly riots after it happened.
The Korans and other Islamic books were taken from the Parwan Detention Facility, and officials believed that extremists being detained there were using the texts to exchange messages. The religious books and other materials were put in burn bags and then later thrown into a fire pit used to burn garbage at Bagram Air Field, a major U.S. base north of Kabul.
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Military officials said the investigating officer in Afghanistan completed the report and recommended the disciplinary actions. The report was approved by Marine Gen. John Allen, the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, and forwarded to Pentagon.
U.S. military officials spoke about the report on condition of anonymity because the matter is classified and still under review.
Altogether, two Navy and nine Army service members in Afghanistan were sent back to the United States in conjunction with the Koran burning shortly after it happened. But, based on the investigating officer's report, several would not face any punishments.
U.S. officials have said that the service members did not know what they were throwing into the burn pit and that the books were pulled out by Afghan workers before they were destroyed. President Barack Obama apologized to Afghan President Hamid Karzai for the incident.
Afghan officials, however, have claimed the burning was intentional, and it reinforced perceptions in the country that Americans are insensitive to the Afghans' religion and culture.
A preliminary joint investigation into the matter — done by senior U.S. and Afghan military officials — concluded in early March that while mistakes were made in the burnings, there was no intent to desecrate the Korans or other religious materials.
But it has taken until now for the military to deliver the report and recommended punishments to senior Pentagon leaders for final action.
Typically, the service secretaries review the recommendations, then designate a military commander to take the appropriate action. It could take weeks for the process to unfold and for any final decisions to be made. The military usually does not publicly disclose details of administrative punishments.
Military officials said the Army soldiers are now at Fort Benning, Ga.
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We have been attacked and are at war with individuals who follow an idiology not different than Nazziism, communism, or any other self serving fascist way of life.
Their idiology and way of life are dictated through their koran. This idiology insist that muslims or believers of allah are superior than all others. The koran is written for the current muslim meaning no changes to the idiology. Therefore, all other religious beliefs or idiologies are wrong and can be delt with up to and including death. We are not talking about a religous freedom of worship but about an idiology and way of life. Peace to the muslim is sharia law inflicted upon all mankind.
For those who question the validity to what I have written, read the koran.
When will the world truly understand the real enemy and the idiology that gives them their strength?
Nazziism, fascism, communism we all deplore for it evil intent. However, we watch islam grow with its fascist idiology that once spread through most of europe.
Wake up!
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Unless their nuts do what?
Never let your guard down against fanaticals... especially people such as yourself in the United States.
freeamerica / Indiwade -
Have you EVER served in the military?
.
You have 2 tours in Vietnam...thanks for serving. Tell me why after you got screwed in Vietnam you want to do the same to todays troops?
Does it make you feel better not to be alone?
Why don't you care about the safety of our troops?
Heck - for perspective, wait outside any Southern church with a pile of Bibles and some lighter fluid. Make sure there are plenty of trucks with gun racks in the parking lot. Wait for church to get out, and light the pile of Bibles.
Then run for your life.
These people are third world pyscho radical Muslims with little schooling if any and they blew it out of porportion. We should've kicked their butts when things got out of hand to put them back in line.
People make mistakes but they don't go out blowing things up unless their nuts and want to be taken out. I'm for taken them out before you mess with our troops for an honest mistake. You want to ridicule anyone find out why the Officer in Charge didn't have a Chaplin or one of his representatives overseeing the activity?
You're a coward and an instigator and you can take you're PC stuff and swallow.
You simply don't understand the situation.
Read my comment again. And again. And again, until you get it through your thick skull.
If you had EVER served, you'd know that ticking these 12th-century cultures off simply puts our troops at more risk.
That's why your hero GWB apologized DIRECTLY to Pres Mubarek over our troops desecrating Qurans.
OBAMA REPEATLY SAYING SORRY & sending US High Ranking Officails to Afghanistan to correct US Troops only aided in the attacks against our troops .
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So GWB apologized for the exact same thing in order to harm the troops?
How much glue have you been inhaling today?
Military leadership screwed the pooch and should have had a Chaplin or one of his representatives overseeing the disposal of any religious material in order not to offend any religious sect and they didn't.
Another case of lining up the boys at the bottom when actually they should be looking at the leadership or lack of it in this case and deal with them. Honest mistake by the troops and a big mistake by the leadership giving the orders and not overseeing the activity.
There are a lot of misguided leaders and mentors who assail specific members of specific religions and became hateful in their rhetoric, who I wish could face the same punitive action.
I would love to take that Pastor in Florida who made Koran Burning popular and fashionable and have his rights removed and interned to become a slave of those he offended, but his stupidity and behavior did that already in many ways.
These US Troops and that certain pastor from Florida cheapened the organizations they serve by burning Korans and spreading divisive and inflammatory rhetoric to defend their senseless and stupid behavior. Someday, these people will have to get a job and face some harsh realities which may include choosing better leaders to follow.
I know of some Marine NCO's who went to combat, got in a fire fight, survived and took photos of their victims and then came back to become instructors at Marine Combat Training to show off their photos - like war trophies. I wouldn't even let that man have a job as a dog catcher in my town.
Secondly these guys didn't dispose of this religious property maliciously or without orders. Where was the Chaplin who should have overseen the matter?
I can see where some folks brought back inappropriate materials and shouldn't have...but then again it wasn't you in that situation. I think you should cut them a little slack so you can run your mouth as a civilian and enjoy the luxury of the First Amendment. I know I'll give you back what you toss out.
You talk about putting their butts on the line for everyone but have you served or served during war time?
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Two tours in Vietnam. How about you?