A judge in the court-martial of three British soldiers accused of abusing detained Iraqis ordered jurors Wednesday to acquit one of the suspects on a charge of pretending to kick a prisoner.

Lance Cpl. Mark Cooley still faces two charges of abuse and Judge Michael Hunter refused to allow reporters to publish more details of the decision.[emphasis added - RG]

Pretending to kick a prisoner. He didn't actually kick him, but he faced a court martial.

Cooley is also charged with hoisting a detainee on a forklift and driving it, and with simulating a punch against another detainee, seen in a photograph. He has pleaded innocent to all charges.

There's that word again - pretending. Okay, the forklift thing was dangerous and stupid, but I'm sure the "punching" charge will be dropped as well.

Let's cover some basics about when pretending could prove illegal:

• Pretending to be a police officer
  
• Pretending to be a doctor
  
• Pretending to pay your taxes
  
• Pretending you have any plan of leaving a country you are entering

These are all pretty vaild reasons for facing prosecution if you pretend something. But pretending to punch or kick a prisoner at a time of war? Not so much.

Another soldier, Cpl. Daniel Kenyon, 33, faces five charges, all related to witnessing the alleged abuse and not reporting it. He has denied the charges.

Was it real abuse, or just Mr. Rogers-style make-believe abuse?