Exposing The Truth Of Abu Ghraib

Anderson Cooper Interviews Whistleblower Joe Darby

(CBS)  This segment was originally broadcast on Dec. 10, 2006. It was updated on June 21, 2007.

You may not remember the name Joe Darby, but you remember the impact of what he did. Darby turned in the pictures of prisoner abuse at Abu Ghraib in Iraq – pictures he had discovered purely by accident. Unfortunately for Darby, exposing the truth has changed his life forever, and for the worse.

60 Minutes first broadcast this story last December, the story of an ordinary Joe who grew up in Appalachia and signed up to be an MP in the Army Reserves. As CNN's Anderson Cooper reports, Darby's local unit was sent to Abu Ghraib where he worked in the office while others guarded the prisoners.

And then one day, when Joe Darby wanted scenic pictures to send home, he spotted the unit's camera buff, prison guard Charles Graner.

---

"So I walked up to Graner and I, you know, 'Hey do you have any pictures?' And he said 'Yeah, yeah, hold on.' Reaches into his computer bag and pulls out two CDs and just hands them to me," Darby remembers.

Asked if he thinks Graner realized what was on these discs, Darby says, "I don't think he realized what was on, but I don't think it would have mattered either way. I knew Graner and Graner trusted me."

That trust was about to change Darby's life forever. He copied Graner's discs and gave him back the originals. Later, when Darby looked at the photos he first saw scenic shots of Iraq, but then he came upon the pictures that launched the scandal. One of the first shots was a photo of a pyramid of naked Iraqis.

"I didn't realize it was Iraqis at first, you know? 'Cause we lived in prison cells too," Darby says.

At first, Darby thought the pictures were maybe of American soldiers goofing off.

"I laughed. I looked at it and I laughed. And then the next photo was of Graner and England standing behind them. And I was like, 'Wait a minute. This is the prison. These are prisoners.' And then it kind of sunk in that they were doing this to prisoners. This was people being forced to do this," Darby recalls.

Forced, Darby said, by Graner, who he called the ring leader.

Asked what Charles Graner was like, Darby says, "If you were around him long enough you saw that he had a dark side, a morbid side."

And a sadistic side, according to Darby, who told 60 Minutes Graner directed the abusive posing and picture taking during his night shift when he and his buddies were alone with the prisoners.

What was going through his mind when he clicked through the photos?

"Disbelief," Darby says. "I tried to think of a reason why they would do this, you know."

"Well there's some who say, 'Look, this is a valuable interrogation tool,'" Cooper remarks.

"These were MPs. Our job wasn't to interrogate prisoners," Darby says.

"There has been testimony that some of the MPs were told to soften the prisoners up, that this was part of that," Cooper says.

"And I've heard that. And I wasn't there. I didn't work the tier. I can't say that that didn't happen," Darby replies.

But no matter why they were doing it, Darby knew what they were doing was wrong.

"I've always had a moral sense of right and wrong. And I knew that you know, friends or not, it had to stop," Darby says.

[kentebe]

I frankly to not think an innocent man's life should be made miserable because he revealed a bunch of soldiers trying to legalize an illegality. Serious, patriotism aside. Do you know what th the soldiers abusing the prisoners has done to the image of the country. It has set us back a hundred years and made mockery of our "so called" world adherence to democratic principles. Americans should ignore emotions and ask themselves. Would they be happy if their relatives or kids were abused in a similar manner. I guess it answers the question.

[jtdavies3]

Good idea to appear on a national news program to lower your visibility.

He shouldn't be going through this, but does he expect Anderson Cooper to watch over him at night?

[aswtech]

He made his bed now he has to lie in it. Sometimes it is hard to do the right thing even when you know it will be hugely unpopular. He should have just turned a blind eye this is war not crime on the street.

[blahblahbla5]

Oh, yes. We should all be real afraid that the Europeans are talking about us behind out backs because of the "image of our country". I think Nick Berg would have been glad to be at Abu Ghraib instead of having his head chopped off by the peaceful Muslims. I don't think it answers the question at all, unless you are willing to cede the sovereignty of the United States to the European Union. No thanks.

[sunsoakedbadger]

What is it about people that they blame everyone but the person or persons responsible? Is it the inability to think? Or is it an attempt to further an aggenda? Kentebe would have us believe that because some disgusting humans were abused by soldiers who were acting illegaly has called into question the U.S. adherence to democratic principles? Really, it demonstrates how well our system works. These soldiers were accused of acting illegally. An investigation ensued. They were tried in a court, and a verdict was handed down. The press did not "uncover" this abuse, it was reported to the media by the military. It's just ignorant to blame the United States for actions taken contrary to its own laws. Kentebe saying Americans should ask themselves blah blah blah blah is senseless. It presupposes that the prisoners were innocent little darlings rather than the cold-blooded killers who don't bother to take prisoners except to truly torture in front of video cameras, and murder by cutting off heads.

[c3227ahb]

I don%u2019t condone our Soldiers acting this way with prisoners, not because I think it is torture but because it simply isn%u2019t professional. With that said, I assure you that far worse is going on at our colleges. Only in college they call it hazing but the when it%u2019s done to our enemies, the American media call it torture. I lived in Europe for about 10 years. The reason that the Europeans believe what is said is because it is our media that is saying it! I can%u2019t tell you how many times I%u2019ve heard the Euros say, %u201CHow can it not be true? It is your media that said it. Why would they lie about their own people? That doesn%u2019t make any sense.%u201D

Putting panties on a man%u2019s head is torture? Are you kidding? The enemy cuts the heads of civilians and at least one known soldier, they burn people alive while begging for mercy. That you stupid morans is torture.

All this man did was bring the realities of war to the Military hating media who was all too willing to make this into something it was not. Several times the media has been caught lieing or exagerating.

I truly believe that this self-serving ignorant Man thought only of himself and how he could look like a hero in the eyes of the media. I%u2019m confident of this because he could have used his chain of command instead of using the media. How do we know he wasn%u2019t involved and taking the pictures.

[boomboomz]

"There were a lot of threats, a lot of phone calls to his wife%u2026because [Darby%u2019s actions] really did put our troops in harm%u2019s way, more so than they already were."

Darby's actions did no such thing. The only ones who put the troop's in harm's way were the ones who engaged in the torture.

Referring to Nazi and Soviet death camps is erroneus. In that respect, we can justify all sorts of humanitarian violations and torture - because someone else did something worse. With that mindset, we can easily be lead to a state of lawlessness, with no accountability for any crime.

Furthermore, be-headings or not, I do not recall a single Iraqi arrested for the be-heading of anyone - why? - because we don't know who they are. The state of chaos in Iraq permits any Iraqi who doesn't like their neighbor, to tell the troops "he's a terrorist" and it is a sufficient pretext for them to be thrown in Abu Ghraib.

The posters apathetic to the torture and humiliation, sit comfortably at their computer, spewing characterizations of - "traitor" - but rest assured, if it was their relative, their family member who endured that torture - Darby would be the kind and moral objector.

[joepope44]

Some of the posts on here sicken me. This man did the right thing and should be commended. He should get the Medal of Freedom, lord knows he deserves it more than Tenet.

As Americans, we should be held to the HIGHEST standard. do the terrorists do things worse than what we did at Abu Graib? Yes. But what argument are all of you trying to make? That we should do things as barbaric as what they do? That we should lower ourselves to their level? Then what's the difference between us and them?

Some of you posters may think you are the proud patriot, but the vile you project shows your true selves. You should be ashamed.

[authorlee]

Joe Darby is one more idealistic fools, used by the liberal media for political purposes. There was NO TORTURE AT ABU GHRAIB PRISON. Notice the lack of coverage of real torture by our enemies. Look at the photos on Savages%u2019s webpage:
http://www.homestead.com/prosites-prs/pictures033104.html

The media put our troop and citizens in harms way worldwide.

Quit whining about a fool. He deserve whatever happens to him.

[srusse03]

the guy is a traitor to his unit and to America. The so called torture was equal to a fraternity prank. He should live in fear for the rest of his life. whether the threat is real or not Let him be afraid you reap what you sow brother looks like you sowed some *** now live with it

[democratdan]

A traitor receives his just desserts.

[csc5502d]

Wow, Americans should ask if we'd be happy if our relatives or kids were "abused" like the poor terrorists? Hey, did anyone ask the guys who cut off all those people's heads if they would like it done to them or their kids? Did anyone ask the guys who murdered those contractors and hung them from the bridge if they would like that done to them or their kids? Did you "kiss up to the enemy and always blame America" liberals or your hacks in the so-called "news" spend even 1/10th the time on those stories as you did on the poor "victims" who got their picture taken naked? NOPE. Gee, I wonder why.

And any idiot who says we have to be held to a higher standard better just surrender now. When only one side plays by the rules, that side can expect to lose. The enemy deserves NO better treatment than they give us.

Finally, this guy is flat out lying. If he slept every night with a pistol under his pillow, cocked, with his hand on it, like he said, he'd be dead right now. He would have blown off his own head in his sleep, and anyone who knows anything about firearms or firearm safety knows that. And if he's lying about that, what else is he lying about?

[rhbcazny]

ss

[wmarkclarke]

Joe Darby did nothing wrong. What he did was an honorable thing. There are people that have called him "traitor", "snitch" and other words. All of which are wrong. What he did was just and was his duty under the code of military Justice. What those individuals did was inhumane. No matter what the prisoners were accused of doing. We as Americans, must be held to a higher standard. Joe Darby did this.

As a former state corrections officer, I was appalled. Like everyone else of the photographs that were shown around the world on how United States military personnel treated prisoners. Those individuals who were later to be found guilty for what they did will live for the rest of our lives, knowing what they did was wrong and what Joe Darby did a was correct.

It is a travesty, as well as shame, his hometown did not support his action and in some cases, the Army did not support what he did.

What Joe Darby was show a lack of training by the United States Army on how to deal with prisoners. Those individuals found guilty of for what they did or not trained to be corrections officers. Did United States Army know this? Sure they did. Army intelligence one at some people who follow orders without question so they can interrogate the individuals without any repercussions.

The Army intelligence gather information from those prisoners? Will never know. Would the photographs released to embarrass President George Bush? To some yes, and that's without question.

[dommiem]

SO CALLED TORTUE AT ABU GRAIB AND IVY LEAGUE HAISSING ARE THE SAME THING...CUTING OFF HEADS,HANGING OFF BRIDGES AND WHAT THEY DID TO PEARLE, OUR CONTRACTORS, ETC. IS TORTURE. YOU FOLKS
FROM OUT LEFT FIELD AND BORN AGAIN LIBERALS..THE GUY WAS A SET UP AND GAVE THE PICS DIRECTLY TO THE PRESS,KNOWING *** WELL HE WOULD MAKE THE TALK SHOWS AND BOOK WRITERS EVNTUALLY, WHICH HE HAS, AND WON'T HAVE TO WORK ANY MORE.HE'LL BE A MILLIONAIRE AND IN A COUPLE OF YEARS, THIS ALL PASSES AND HE AND HIS FAMILY ARE ON EASY STREET FOREVER....

[jeaubleau]

I am comfortable with the enemy using "creative interrogation techniques" on U.S. soldiers, the same way the U.S. soldiers used them on the enemy. If the enemy believes the soldier has information which can be useful to the enemy, I don't see why the enemy shouldn't use methods which cause "extreme displeasure, discomfort, fear, and pain" to extract that information. If the enemy were here in America, I would be okay with the enemy grabbing citizens off the street, and using these "creative interrogation methods" to extract confessions. I think it is fine to have American soldiers exposed to temperature extremes, be placed in stress positions for long hours, be humiliated sexually, be smeared with feces and menstrual blood, be waterboarded, and to be beaten until they confess to alleged crimes. I don't feel that the enemy should allow American captives to have access to a legal defense, the courts, or the law. If anyone exposes the system of torture used by the enemy, they should be ostracized and should fear for their life.
If you disagree with these statements, then you should not advocate U.S. soldiers performing these acts on other humans.

[firespurt]

That man is a true hero. Anyone who supports the threats against him are akin to the Nazi party members who stood idly by and watched their Jewish neighbors dragged away by the Gestapo. Those soldiers involved committed horrible acts against other human beings and have to suffer the consequences of their actions. Someone said that the torture was like a fraternity prank. You can choose to walk away from a fraternity, but not Abu Ghraib.

[libsarenuts]

May Mr Darby spend every day of his treason-hearted exsistance worrying that retribution hides behind every tree. He may indeed become rich because of his anti-American actions but his constant fear of being revenged upon should take the fun out of that.
I can think of several so called journalists who deserve the same fate. The left-stream media is complicit in these acts of cowardice and betrayal. How many additional soldiers have died because of their reckless reporting. Certain aspects of any war should be off limits to the media.
I spit on you Mr Darby.

[topdogup]

Oh, yes. We should all be real afraid that the Europeans are talking about us behind out backs because of the "image of our country". Putting panties on a man%u2019s head is torture? What about the Prisoner of War in the Hoa Lo Prison(i.e. Hanoi Hilton)? What about the North Vietnamese Officers practice of inflicting torture and other cruel,inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment,including severe and repeated beatings,assaults,confinement in a wooden box,forcible sleep and sensory deprivation,mock executions, death threats,and restraint in contorted and excruciating positions!"

I am sure that Alferd Agnew,Quincy Collins,Bud Day, Jeremiah Denton,Alan Kroboth,Henry Lesesne,Glen Myers,James Risner,James Stockdale,and Lance Sijan would have prefered Abu Ghraib Prison humiliation to that of the Blue Room (Hoa Lo Prison) interrogation where Americans POW's were interrogated and tortured for many years.

Where are the Europeans,CBS, The International Red Cross,kentebe,Canada,Joe Darby, Anderson Cooper about the War Crimes committed by Vietnamese officials who had violated the Geneva Conventionat the Hanoi Hilton(Hoa Lo Prison)?

When will CBS, The International Red Cross,kentebe,Canada,Joe Darby, Anderson Cooper,and the Europeans bring the Vietnamese Officials and Officers who had violated the Geneva Convention and committed War Crimes against the Americans Prisoners of War be brought to justice?

[alex20850]

What I find truly amazing and frightening are the people who assume that EVERYBODY who got tortured was guilty. There was no investigation, there was no trial, there was no conviction, there was no sentencing. This was done by guards because it was "fun" AND other cases people died under torture. It reminds me of the event that happened in DC with the police rounding up bystanders including a nurse walking across a park. There was no "You must leave the park or you will be arrested." In the same way, some of these people probably were just in the wrong place at the wrong time. Or... they may have been turned in by terrorists because they wouldn't cooperate with the terrorists.

[backninedel]

libsarenuts: the only one treason-hearted here is you. We are over there because we WANT to be better than the terrorists, not the same as them, and you know good and well what was done there was sadistic, and not geared toward 'gleaning useful intelligence'...sorry, can't hang an airfreshener on that one. Folks like you and that idiot Colin Englebach quoted in the article need to spend about four years in a place like Abu Ghraib to make you appreciate what REAL freedom is.

[imtoni]

I dont't have a problem with him reporting the actions at ABU GRAIB to the military with pictures. BUT I have a big problem with them being supplied to the media with pictures and video. The media doesn't care about the war and the safety of the soldiers fighting it. I do and he should. Did the media pay him for his pictures and video

[sflew2s]

What happened at Abu Graib was shameful and doesn't pass muster as humane and decent behavior even by my standards, but any comparison of our troops to the butchers they are fighting that take hostages and saw off their heads for all the world to see, any comparison to these dogs that will indiscriminately bomb an open market full of their own people just to get a few Americans, well I just can't see that comparison. If these poor innocent souls suffered some indignations at the hands of our troops then they can count themselves lucky, we are at war with them and they could easily have been killed on the battlefield, but now that we are no longer in charge of the prisons these slime of the earth are feeling the justice of their brethren, they are being beaten, tortured and abused far worse than we ever did to them at Abu Graib. I bet they are looking back fondly at the time when the Americans were their jailers.

[mdc76082]

Serving for over 22 years let me tell you when it comes to any terms of the Geneva Convention, the US military is no grand dame to upholding it's categories by the letter of the law. We have killed covertly for less, we have beaten and cut off fingers, arms and legs and other body parts of prisoners. Trust me folks the US is no angel and when it comes to war it acts just as viciously as it's enemies. People who call this man a traitor for upholding the image and dignity of this great nation...well you should be called an enemy of the state and dealt with accordingly. You are the traitors of a nation that has an image of being "better" and more dignified than it's enemies even in times of war! Ask any POW if they'd love their punishments taken on their worst enemy and I tell you, I do not wish what happened to me to happen to any "human" being on this planet, whether friend or foe. I beg mercy to God on your souls.

[vincan-2009]

Sometimes people can be so backassward it is crazy. We were supposed to be "winning the hearts and minds" of the Iraqis. How, by being as evil as Sadam Husein? God bless the whistleblowers. They are not rewarded by the Bush administration or the military. They will be rewarded by God. Wrong is wrong is wrong. I respect Joe Darby and wish people were really moral enough to see through the stupid point of view of protect any and every criminal acts but punish the one who is brave enough to see evil and want it stopped.

[tdiky]

It is so sad to read that one man who did the right thing has had his life and that of his family turned into such a mess.

Talk about no good deed going unpunished!!!

Bush should be the one to go into hiding for the horror in Iraq he made happen and take Rummy, Cheney and Rove with him.

[pixelslinger]

'Oh, it was just a little humiliation.' 'It was just stacking a bunch of naked men in a pyramid' 'It was just scaring them with guard dogs' 'It was just pantyhose over their faces' 'The north vietnamese did a lot worse!'

I am left to wonder how it is possible that any of you who agree with or have said any of the above are capable of realizing just how moronic, as in idiotic, illogical, devoid of substantial intellect, you really are.

First, an most important - while I would support the assessment that there were rarely any charges or witnesses to crimes committed by the AG prisoners, I would also have to support that the MP's probably made the best possible good-faith efforts to ensure that they were populating the prison with actual criminals.

That being said, those of you idiots described above seem to be selecting the lesser crimes of the abuse, and it speaks absolute VOLUMES about what 'you' would do when friends of yours blatantly broke the law; you'd rationalize it was ok for your best friend to be a serial rapist because, well, he's your best friend.

I can hear the protest now - 'there's a huge difference between raping and making prisoners strip and get on all fours!' It's funny that your memory is so selective as to forget just how many men had broom and mop handles shoved up their ***' as part of this 'humiliation'. Is anyone in the US really so selective as to suggest that 'that' isn't rape because it wasn't an actual ***?

[gaye5]

America, you have double standards, straight out DOUBLE STANDARDS. What a fool I was to think that America was an honest, moral country. I am disgusted and angry, when a man does the right thing and reports of atrocities which has been done BY Americans, not Iraqis, but Americans, is then scared for his life. And this poor man who has lived in his home town all his life with family and friends isn't even safe in his home town and is scared for his life, then that is disgusting, it means that Americans agree with atrocities as long as it isn't being done to them. I cant express how angry I am, and too think that I have stuck up for America all these years, what a fool I am.... Americans should feel proud that this man is holding up the morals of America, as we all know that there will be the odd corrupt person in society who must be weeded out.
So you go into Iraq to stop atrocities and cover up what your own armed forces do, America you have just shown that you are just as corrupt as Iraq, and for the first time in all this I feel disgusted that America is in Iraq pretending to do good... NO atrocities should be allowed no matter if it is done by our own or theirs,,, I am glad I live in Australia and hope our men don't follow the example of America...I will now go and read some of the other replies and hope that I don't get more disillusioned...

[topdogup]

mdc76082 when where you a POW ?With over 22 years of service would put the time frame 1980 til 1984.The US did not have any offical POW's at that time.

[celticqwn]

Joe Darby did the right thing. Those members of the armed forces that were responsible for this embarassed MY United States. They were there to represent a nation. Now, because of their behavior, and other bad behavior, they have put the other good soldiers at risk. Their behavior has very possibly cost lives. The United States used to be a nation know for it's humanity, now, because of the attitude of many, we are considered bullies and no longer treated with the respect we once had. Abu Graib showed a nation that no longer respected itself and the very rules they set up and demand others abide by. A great Nation made to look foolish because of a few childish, bigoted, arrogant, close minded bullies who can't understand that when they put on that uniform they represent a nation. They represent me and every american. They may very well have lost lives because of this, they certainly lost respect.

What Joe Darby did was right. What the media did with that is another embarassing story.

[md90814]

One of the things I find ironic is that some of the people here cite the beheadings of Americans as justification for the techniques used by the military at Abu Ghraib.

Why do I find it ironic? Because the Abu Ghraib abuse photos were first made public in April, 2004 -- and because the first instances of people being taken hostage and beheaded didn't occur until May 2004.

So, what's my point? Simply this: If the prisoners at Abu Ghraib weren't abused and tortured, there's a good chance the beheadings wouldn't have happened.

Remember, people -- we're supposed to be the good guys in this fight. We're supposed to act better than this. We're supposed to set an example for the rest of the world to follow.

Revealing what happened at Abu Ghraib was the right thing to do. The shame of it is that those who are really guilty, such as Pappas, Sanchez, Miller, Rumsfeld and Bush etc, will more than likely never receive the appropriate punishment for their involvement.

The fact that Rumsfeld revealed Darby as the whistleblower makes me dislike Rumsfeld even more.

All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.

libsarenuts wrote:

"He may indeed become rich because of his anti-American actions..."

Darby's actions were not "anti-American".

Those whose actions were/are "anti-American" are more than likely the same ones that you support - like Rumsfeld, Bush, Miller, Sanchez and Pappas.

The fact of the matter is that the vast majority of those held at Abu Ghraib weren't guilty of any crimes.

Karpinsky wrote:

"They came from raids of homes or other meeting places; thousands of people just swooped up and brought in. ..When the Soldiers conducting the raids arrived at the specified location, they usually did not have enough information to identify the target individual(s) so they arrested everybody at the location, sometimes more than a few hundred individuals apprehended during one raid. They were told the interrogators would sort it out and identify the target individuals."

jeaubleau:

Well said.

[missamerica4]

Abu Ghraib abuse was wrong.
Abu Ghraib abuse photos given to the media was wrong. The people who did both were wrong and should be held to account for their actions.
Both disgraced the military and the American citizens.
Blaming Bush , Rove or anyone else is like blaming the School Board for truancy.
A soldier is duty-bound to NOT obey any order he believes to be inhumane or unjust. He will do so at the peril of his/her career as it should be.
Few americans know what torture is.
Torture is what was happening under saddam before we went to Iraq.Cutting off arms, legs, cutting out tongues throwing people off buildings, putting people alive through shredders. Get a grip people.

[arachnae]

Most of the comments to this story are vile. Whatever happened to morals and ethics in America, if protecting your guilty buddies is more important than truth and justice?

Most posters here forget, the bulk of the people imprisoned at Abu Ghraib were guilty of nothing. They also forget that the story had actually been broken to the media long before the photos came out. Do you remember when you first heard of the story? When there were pictures, right? Because without photographic evidence, nobody cared and nothing was done. Look it up - nothing was done until the photos came out.

[therealworld-2009]

Wakeup people! We had WAR waged on us!
The guy is a snitch and deserves whatever happens to him.
He had many options in his line of command, but he decided to go to the Media. War is hell, and the enemy we are fighting wants to KILL US!!! This enemy beheads, burns and wants nothing less than to destroy us and some of you just don't get it. If we don't defeat this enemy then you can kiss your liberal butts goodbye! Wakeup up and smell the Jihad!!!!!!!!

[jdeltoro1]

He saw human beings being abused. To not report that would have been wrong. I hope the people against him don't call themselves Christian. Christ would have never accepted any of their actions. His parents taught him right. If it is wrong, do not let it go on.

[owyheehuntr]

How much sense does THAT make. He claims he's scared for his life, so he gets on CBS News and has video and still pictures of what he looks like plastered everywhere. With brains like that, he must be a Liberal.

[rocknmhomebr]

Remember what CBS has done to facilitate our enemies and put us all in danger! They are traitors. Do not watch this 60 minutes episode and do not patronize their sponsors. Remember when the Civil War in the United States starts who were the enemy sympathizers and find them first. Wake up before the hate America first panzies crowd sells you down the river.

[missamerica4]

bushrocks wrote:
But I do strongly believe that a country that can't find those men is doomed. The fact that we can find them is one reason why I say there is no failure in Iraq.
Quite true bushrocks. We still "find" men and women who love their country and who believe in her that will serve her. My husband served for 29 years 2 tours in Vietnam.
I agree...Iraq is not a failure although there will be failures along the way.
Abuse at Abu Ghraib was a failure. Abu Ghraib was a failure in command and leadership because many who have those responsibilities have never seen war, and never had to make a hard decision in their lives.
Abuse at Abu Ghraib was because some of those who were charged with the care of prisoners come from a generation who have never had to take care of themselves much less anyone else . They have grown up with nothing more to do than entertain themselves with video games and gladly except violence as normal fare as evidenced by the music and movies they choose.
Are there a few bad apples, of course but there are many, many more who looked at the Towers and the 3000 who died and stepped up to the plate to defend this country from any and all enemies.
Anyone wishing to read what an Iraqi feels about the war may want to check out Iraq The Model. (goggle)
A reality check may help some understand that nothing is perfect including people. If things were perfect there would be NO war, would there?

[wmarkclarke]

Folks,

Some of you all don't get it. The word "Traitor" in this conversation has been abused. Many of you have no idea what really happened, except what was seen in those photos. Later we would find out the military personnel were acting on orders from military intelligence people that were at that prison, trying to get information from those individuals. Darby knew what was happening. To him. It was wrong. The chain of command failed him. In fact there may have been two chain of commands that failed him..

Now, because of what happen any future American soldier, sailor, airman and Marine will be subjugated by our future enemies. Based upon what happened at that prison. Hopefully, what has happened to those soldiers that were there and prosecuted by our law. Our future enemies will not do what those soldiers did to those prisoners.

If our soldiers would not have been prosecuted by our laws and gotten away with it future American servicemen and women will be subjugated under the same treatment as what happened at that prison.

Mr. Darby was correct in what he did. If I had my own place out in the middle of nowhere I would be more than happy to invite his family to stay until everything calms down.

[missamerica4]

wmark:
Then you are saying the Bataan march and Bataan death camp...Never happened !

You are saying that the over 2000 men that were tortured and died, and are still unrecovered, as prisoners of war North Korea ...never happened ?

You think the POW camps in Vietnam ... Camp 1 POW Camp Changsong; Camp 2 POW Camp Pyoktong; Camp 3 POW Camp Changsong; Camp 4 POW Camp Pyoktong; Camp 5 POW Camp Pyoktong ... where the conditions in the camps were deplorable; there was very little food and water. Many Americans died at the camps from dysentery, Beriberi, Starvation, beating's , cold injuries, worms, and maggots , and lung problems with no medical attention ..did not happen.?

Through all of these wars and including the Iraq War the US has treated POWS well. Have there been some cases of abuse.. I am sure there have been.
It is NOT a matter of policy and no one has ever needed a reason to treat Americans cruelly. Cruel has been the nature of the enemy, in most cases that was why we were fighting.
Yes, soldiers who cross the line and mistreat their charges must be prosecuted.
Mr. Darby has shamed himself, his fellow servicemen, and his country.
There were procedures for Mr. Darby, he was sworn to uphold. He did not but then they would have brought him neither the money or the notoriety that going to the media has.
Anyone have 30 pieces of silver?

[jrtoddskow2]

What the Hell is wrong with you DUMB *** Liberals, why don't ya'll carry you butts over to Iraq and work in the prisons or better yet go out on the front line,get captured,get beaten, and have a video made of you getting BEHEADED and shown on television for your family and friends to see and then tell me Joe Darby done the right thing! Hey Joe, don't move to my hometown you *** TRAITOR! Buddies-you have NONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[jrtoddskow2]

Hey Liberals and Joe Darby, one more thing, that was a sure fire way for you to get you fat *** out of Iraq before the Iraqi's got hold of you, huh? Darby you are a COWARD whose knows nothing about Loyalty to your country, your just like your commander in cheif george w bush who started this private war because his father didn't finish it the first time! WAKE UP AMERICANS You must not be too scared darby you're going on TV, how much money are you getting at the cost of our Soldiers??

[librablue-2009]

At least Joe Darby has a conscience, which is more than I can say for Bush, Rumsfeld, and the rest of the clueless cronies who led us into this war under false pretenses. They are the ones responsible for its consequences, especially since Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11.

I have heard all the reasons why Mr. Darby should be considered a traitor, but none of it justifies the abuse he has had to endure. No Matter what anyone thinks about what he did, there is no excuse for anyone to intimidate his family. I wish our government had the moral scruples that Joe Darby demonstrated by exposing these atrocities.

Furthermore, just because some of us do not agree that Joe is a traitor, does not mean we condone the murder and torture of our soldiers by anyone. It appears that many of the supporters of this debacle in Iraq can't seem to understand that. For them it is either you agree with us or you are wrong; there are no gray areas in their thinking. I cringe to think about what other illegal and immoral activities will remain hidden because there are no Joe Darbys to expose them.

[stan69455]

Darby should be scared. What he did was wrong. Those prisoners got everything they deserved!! Do we all forget what they did to their own people??
He should of thought of the ramifications before he decided to open his big trap!!

[sfcabe]

To the VFW Commander in Cumberland, MD. This solider did his duty to the military. It was not his job to protect the wrong doings of the other soldiers, but to protect the welfare of the prisoners. Two wrongs does not make a right. Your VFW needs to get a new Commander, maybe one who actually was there.

[calliejae]

i am appalled that people would put their "buddies" above morality. Darby and his family will live in fear for the rest of their lives because he chose to do the right thing. that is messed up. what is america and its democracy if not morality? anyone who hates darby for what he did should not be an american. you discust me.

[gwenhale]

I am mortified. NOT at Joe Darby- he is a hero. Truth is honorable. What kind of sickos would put him down for telling the truth? What is WRONG with people that they think war crimes are acceptable? Over 99% of the imprisoned Iraqis are innocent of ANYthing- they just happened to have had "THE SUPERPOWER" invade their country illegally and immorally and now they have to "suck it up" and take our illegal war crimes & torture???? How totally sick!!!! The fact that anyone is against this man shows me once again how completely twisted our world has become. Huge kudos and gratitude to Joe Darby, and shame on bush & co. Someday the truth will be known. Bush will be in a war crimes tribunal at the Hague and Joe Darby will fully understand that he was on the side of righteousness and truth. God forgive us.