Comments on: Exposing The Truth Of Abu Ghraib

Anderson Cooper Interviews Whistleblower Joe Darby

[firstmarc]

You Darby supporters just don't get it. You must think this is a game and there are some pre-agreed-upon rules. THERE ARE NO RULES IN WARFARE. The Japanese followed no rules in WWII, the VC none in Nam, and the insurgents follow none in Iraq. But you want American soldiers to "play at a higher standard," i.e., fight with one hand tied behind our back.
If it were a game and the only cost of losing was your pride, then fine - higher standard than our enemey. But the risk is life or death. THERE ARE NO RULES. Just one goal - survival by beating the enemy. Whatever it takes. We humbled and embarrassed the enemy. Big deal. We didn't shove bamboo shoots under their fingernails. Wake up. Get in the real world.

[redtornado10]

To hear Americans say Darby is a traitor shows how narrow people become in war. The idea that he should not have said anything because these were his buddies would be like saying I am not going to turn in my "buddy" for molesting the child of the neighbor I don't particularly like. What we did was wrong, even if we are at war with the Iraguis. To think that all Iraquis are guilty and deserving of abuse because we are at war goes to show how little research these people have done on the war. The first rule in war is to make your enemy non human so you can kill them (or abuse them in this case). If doing the right thing in this country is traiterous, I would not want to call myself American. Fortunately we are a democracy with the right to disagree.

[momica7]

Everyone in Cumberland should line up for Confession to ask forgiveness by God & of Mr. Darby & his wife! Telling the truth should not be punished by Harrassment or worse! Two maxims come to mind 1) All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for Good men to do nothing, Thank-you, Mr Darby, for being a good man. 2)Two wrongs don't make a right. As we teach our children: just because someone does bad to you, doesn't give you permission to do as bad or worse. Every Sunday-school &/ religion teacher should show this story to classes discussing making moral choices. God bless you, Joe & you, Bernadette(for standing by him through all this).
Monica Marie Tate

[glynn1949]

Joe Darby is a hero while Colin Engelbach, who called him a traitor, should not be allowed to serve our country. If I were serving in the military, I would want Joe Darby standing next to me, not Colin Engelbach. Mr. Darby can be very proud of himself, while Mr. Engelbach should be ashamed to make those statements, let alone on national TV. Mr. Englebach needs a lesson in honor, perhaps taught by Mr. Darby, who obviously has a clear understanding of the word, it's related actions and responsibilities.

Mr. Darby, American should be extraordinarily honored to have you as a citizen. You are too good for Cumberland. Wherever you are now living, they are lucky to have you as a neighbor and member of their community!

[big60minfan]

Joe Darby said; We are Americans, we hold ourselves to a higher standard. I think the US Military should post this in every Army, Navy, Marine and Air Force barrick.

[temp0251]

DAHTED.
Do A Hard Thing Every Day. Cumberland did not do right by Joe Darby, one of your OWN. Cumberland did the easy thing.
This is a tried and true principle that is instilled in many teenagers during coming-of-age teen camps in the summer. It's purpose is to awaken a young adult's latent sense of right and wrong and to train oneself in recognizing how to do the right thing. It was easy for people in your town to have a knee jerk reaction to condemn the 'tattle-tale'er. It is easy because what people were really feeling was shame. The immature actions of the adults in your community is the shamefull act, not Joe Darby's.
As the leaders in your community, you could have written and received an audience with 60 Minutes/CBS News about what the Cumberland Times News, 12/12/2006, said you wanted to do "%u201CI think we%u2019re being misrepresented by the news. ... I can honestly say except for what I%u2019ve heard on %u201860 Minutes%u2019 and a few other times, I%u2019ve absolutely never heard bad things about (Darby). I%u2019m surprised to hear someone say this on TV.%u201D
Why didn't/haven't you staged a press conference to counter the impression left by 60 minutes? You don't think the news channels would come?
Why was there no condemnation of Colin Engelbach opinions in the Cumberland Times article?
Why was there a candle light vigil of the accused soldiers and not Darby?
All it takes for bad things to happen is for GOOD PEOPLE TO DO NOTHING.
Anonymous in Texas.

[avasyuta]

Anyone who thinks this man is a traitor is, themselves, a coward. It's easy to say, "Oh, they're just Iraqis, what does it matter?" Of course it matters. Or would you prefer we all just start wearing swastikas on our uniforms to get the point across? The soldiers who perpetrated this deserve death for what they did. I would have preferred they be lined up and shot for treating other human beings like this. Darby did his duty. He did exactly what a moral human being would have done. I think the head of the VFW in that town should resign for saying that he is a traitor. What is the greater treason - telling the truth, or hiding it so evil men can do this and get away with it? I'm in the military. I spent a year overseas. Does anyone in their right mind think that torturing people makes our job easier? It doesn't. It encourages retaliatory attacks on US troops. It only encourages the insurgents because it gives them ammunition to gain more converts. Anyone who doesn't understand that is seriously lacking in common sense. It disgusts me that the people of his own hometown would turn on him like that - like rabid dogs going after an injured member of their own. I can think of one town in the US I would never consider visiting. Treason isn't what Darby did - it's the members of his hometown turning on him for doing the right thing. I can't believe I have to share citizenship with people like that.

[jsyake]

Dear Joseph Darby,

I wanted to send my personal thanks to you for unflinching ethical stand you took, you are certainly a man of courage. You parents ought to be very proud of you. I sure would be if I was your dad.

As an American, it was with pride that I watched the Sixty-Minutes program this evening (the rebroadcast done on June 24, 2007). Over the last few years "Uncle Sam" has taken quite a beating as far as our reputation in this world of ours. This Bush administration has set us back many years in terms of how the world views us, and more importantly, how we view ourselves.

The tradegy of Abu Ghraib perhaps has less to do with the behavior of the seven US military personal than it has to do with what I'd term "yet another loss of innocence". We Americans have often prided ourselves in being above this sort of thing. That was how I was taught and raised. Yet by the reaction of some of the letters/comments I've seen written in this site, it seems some of us have lost our way. You sir held a light up so all could see...perhaps we may find our way once again...head back on the right track.

You had nothing to gain, and lots to loose, yet you did the right thing no matter of its affect on you and your family. I never served in the military, but if we should ever meet, I'd like to salute you.

My Sincere Thanks,

Jim Yake
Denville, NJ

PS If you ever find yourself in this neck of the woods, I would love to buy you a drink.

[redtornado10]

Thank you for stepping up and doing the right thing. This war is based on lies by one of the most corrupt administrations of our US history. War crimes never have been, and never will be acceptable whether it is the United States or any other country. Sadly, telling the truth and doing the right thing is oftenn target for attack. In time, you will be recognized as the hero you are. Thank you for making hte ultimate sacrifice to your country by telling the truth.

[firstmarc]

Joe Darby - liar, coward, traitor.
He's a liar. He said he "never expected the pictures to become such a big deal. Bull. What did he think they would do with them? He wanted the publicity and now's he's got it. He's a liar.
He's a coward. He did not have the courage to say who he was when he turned in the pictures. He tried to stay anonymous and was outed by accident. He's a coward.
He's a traitor. He betrayed his unit and put them all at much greater risk - by inflaming the passions and resolve of the enemy. This is war. Trying to be politically correct should not be a goal. The goal is survivial, beating the enemy, whatever it takes. He's a traitor.

[mace48]

Darby IS a hero. That recruiter from Cumberland is the traitor and rat, and all of Cumberland should hang its head in shame for their reactions.

[furby0001]

Thank God for the Darby's of the world. It's the rest of his town that should be in hiding.

[nicksuedan]

As a former enlisted soldier (E-7)and a retired Army officer I am saddened that the town of Cumberland and their VFW Commander choose the stance they did regarding SGT Darby. WHile unit Esprit de corps and cohensiveness are important, they should never take the place of Army values and appropriate conduct on and off the battlefield.

One would have thought we would have learned our lessons well during Vietnam and it's atrocities, but it is evident that once again what is right and wrong and what is acceptable and unacceptable needs to be continually reinforced.

SGT Darcy should hold his head high, he did the right thing and I am proud to call him a fellow soldier and honorable man

S.C.Lemm, USA retired

[mark6073]

Congrats to gt Darby
My son i 2nd Lt on hi way to Iraq
I hope he know right from wrong as well as you do

[missgranny-2009]

Joe Darby is a HERO!

[samoanjoke]

I thank Joe Darby for being the real American. He is the ideal American Soldier. The Nazi soldier said they were just following orders. If Bush had any of the class, this soldier has, and he did serve his country, we wouldn't be in the situation we are in Iraq.
Joe I would fight beside you any time.

[markthescot-2009]

Joe Darby, you are to be commended on doing the correct, ethical thing. You have taken a lot of criticism from men who might have done the wrong thing. Your sense of the ethical is right on, whether you got that from formal education of the subject while in military service or just a sense of "doing the right thing". I faced some very difficult ethical issues, both while in military service and in large corporations doing business with the military. Ethics advisors everywhere will support that what you did as ethical, the "right thing" to do. While I was in the military I was faced with contentious issues; I heard some of those similar scorching remarks you are hearing now. Now that I have a formal college education and have been faced with ethical issues in corporate life and have received additional training, it is clear to me what I did, and what you did, was absolutely the right thing. So, Joe, keep up your chin and keep doing those right things. If we had more soldiers like you, we would not be facing such scandals and fighting the "ugly American" stereotype that I face each time I travel overseas.

[jdarby2]

This post is to clarify a few things I have read on this comment section. Cumberland is where I grew up. It was and is my true home. When I returned home from Iraq I was told I could not go home by the Army security commander assigned to my family. The evaluation that the military did, found that a majority of the people THEY spoke with were very negative towards me. That is not to say most people in the area didn%u2019t support me, it only means the ones who didn%u2019t were more vocal about it. The opinion of Mr. Engelbach on 60 minutes was just that, HIS opinion, which he like all Americans has a right to voice. This is no reason to bash an area that for the most part is supportive. From what I have seen on this comment section everyone has an opinion of my actions, which like Mr. Engelbach is their right. The bottom line is the choice was mine to make and I made it and whether or not you think I was right or wrong it was MY choice. As a Christian and an American I have the free will and right to make that choice.
Joseph Darby
Feel free to comment or email me at http://www.myspace.com/the_right_thing

[mbrochstein]

Joe Darby is an American hero. He makes me proud to be an American. He stood up for our core American values. He stood up for what is right and if those found guilty as a result of his actions don't like it or him then they should have thought of that when they broke the law. What he exposed may not have made America look good to others but more importantly it shows the strength of our country in how we handled the information he turned in. I wish Joe much success in the future. The nation owes him a debt.

[fortruehonor]

I commend Joe Darby for what he did. It takes a real man,a heroe, and an honest American to do what he did. He may have lost his hometown, but he has gained the support and admiration of the rest of the country.