Army: No common thread in killings by Iraq vets

No common thread has been found that would explain the shocking murders in which Fort Carson Iraq war vets have either been convicted or are awaiting trial, the Army's top civilian official wrote in a letter to Sen. Ken Salazar released Thursday.
The Colorado Democrat, who has been named to President-elect Barack Obama's Cabinet, called for a review in October after Colorado Springs police arrested Spc. Robert Hull Marko on suspicion of murder and rape in the death of a 19-year-old woman. Other troops from Marko's unit, the 4th Brigade Combat Team of the 4th Infantry Division, were charged in the deaths of two fellow soldiers last year and in the June shooting deaths of a couple posting garage-sale signs in their neighborhood.
The brigade returned from Iraq in 2007 after 15 months of fighting in Baghdad.
Two months of investigation haven't yielded the answer of what in their shared experience as soldiers led to the killings when they returned from combat, Army Secretary Peter Geren told Salazar in the letter. A final report is due to Fort Carson Commander Maj. Gen. Mark Graham by March 1, he said.
"To date, no single factor has emerged as the cause of these tragic incidents; however leaders at all levels at Fort Carson continue to work to address any and all stressors related to combat in our returning warriors," Geren wrote.
Fort Carson officials have said they're working with Army experts to review every aspect of the killings to determine if there are common factors that can be addressed to stop future crime.
The study is looking at everything from background checks conducted before the soldiers entered the Army to how they were evaluated for mental illness before and after their Iraq service, Fort Carson officials said Thursday.
Post officials including lawyers, doctors and police are on the investigative team.
So far, the investigation has shown leaders that they need to improve communication between doctors to better track troubled troops, but has revealed no major failings that could have contributed to the killings.
Col. Shannon Davis, the post's deputy commander said the investigation could eventually include interviewing the accused Iraq veterans to see if they can shed light on shortcomings.
"If we're allowed to contact those soldiers through the legal process, we will contact them for input," he said.
Salazar spokesman Matt Lee-Ashley said in a statement that it's too early to draw any conclusions.
"We still need far more information than what the Army provided today ... and hope that Secretary Geren will expedite the review and deliver detailed findings to congress as soon as possible," Salazar spokesman Matt Lee-Ashley said in a statement.
Salazar was nominated this week to head the Interior Department for Obama's incoming administration, and would likely be out of the Senate by the time the final report arrives.
Meanwhile, the Army is edging closer to a service-wide examination of violence committed by returning veterans, something Salazar has repeatedly requested.
Geren said he's told the Army's top personnel officer to "come back to me with options for conducting a broader, Army-wide assessment."
While the crimes in Colorado Springs have drawn the most attention, violence tied to Iraq veterans has hit nearly every major Army post.

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