May 22, 2004
EXCERPTSIn a Soldier's Words, an Account of Concerns
|
|
pecialist Joseph M. Darby left an anonymous letter and a disc with photographs of abuse at Abu Ghraib with investigators on Jan. 13. The next day he acknowledged that he was the author of the letter. Following are excerpts from that previously secret testimony, as obtained by The New York Times:
I arrived at Abu Ghraib sometime around Oct. 25 or 26, 2003. Shortly after I arrived, I was talking with Corporal Graner and he showed me pictures on his digital camera of a prisoner chained to his cell. The prisoner's arms were chained above his head and he was naked.
At the time I didn't think too much of it, as I thought perhaps it was procedure in the Hard Site. . . . I went on emergency leave from Nov. 9, 2003, until Nov. 26, 2003. When I returned, I learned of a shooting that occurred in the Hard Site, so I asked Corporal Graner if he had pictures of the cell where the inmate was shot because I was curious. Corporal Graner told me that he did have pictures of the cell, and he handed me two compact discs. I thought the discs just had pictures of Iraq, the cell where the shooting occurred and other personal photos. . . . I discovered a bunch of pictures of palaces in Iraq, photos of the city of Hilla and pictures of Abu Ghraib. I also found a bunch of folders that had dates on them. With these folders were a bunch of photos that showed naked female prisoners, naked male prisoners and other photos of male prisoners in sexual positions. I also saw a pyramid of naked prisoners. I returned the discs that I borrowed from Corporal Graner two or three days after I initially borrowed them. . . .
I made two compact discs with all the photos. After I made the compact discs, I deleted the photos from my hard drive. I thought about the pictures showing the prisoners in sexual positions and I thought that it was just wrong.
When I learned Corporal Graner was going to go back and work at the Hard Site, which is where the photos showing the prisoners being abused occurred, I knew I had to do something. I didn't want to see any more prisoners being abused because I knew it was wrong. So I created another compact disc with the photos showing the prisoners being abused and I wrote an anonymous letter and gave it to C.I.D. (Criminal Investigations Division). . . .
Q Why did you want to be anonymous?
SPECIALIST DARBY I was worried about retaliation from other people in my company if they found out I gave these pictures to C.I.D.
Q Why did you decide to come forward?
SPECIALIST DARBY I felt the pictures were morally wrong, and I was worried that if Corporal Graner went back to the Hard Site, he would abuse more prisoners.