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The Sutras of Abu Ghraib: Notes from a Conscientious Objector
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Product Description
The son of a diplomat, Delgado grew up in various countries, including Thailand, where he was introduced to Buddhism, and Egypt, where he learned Arabic. In 2001, after his first year of college, he enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserve, and in 2003 he was deployed as a specialist in Nasiriyah and at Abu Ghraib. When his colleagues learned that he spoke some Arabic and enjoyed meeting Iraqis, they made use of him but also began to mistrust him. As Delgado witnessed more and more American racism, arrogance, and abuse of unarmed Iraqis, his opposition mounted. Concluding that war ran counter to his Buddhist principles, he sought conscientious objector status and, after finishing his tour of duty, was honorably discharged. The following year, Bob Herbert wrote in the New York Times, “The public at large and especially the many soldiers who have behaved honorably in Iraq deserve an honest answer . . . Mr. Delgado’s complaints and the entire conduct of this wretched war should be thoroughly investigated.”
"The point of view in this book is extraordinary -- a Buddhist G.I. inside Abu Ghraib prison, a witness to the horrors, a conscientious objector. Aidan Delgado is a keen observer and an eloquent writer, and he shocks us while also educating us about the reality of the war in Iraq." —Howard Zinn, author of You Can't Be Neutral on a Moving Train and A People's History of the United States
“Aidan Delgado is a powerful, eloquent writer. His description of how he was transformed by the horrors of Iraq is unforgettable. He is a diamond in the rough, sandblasted in the desert of Iraq.” —Amy Goodman, Democracy Now!
“Delgado’s deep sense of patriotism inspired him to join the Army after 9/11, ultimately leading to his ‘boots on the ground’ nightmare in Iraq. His insight helps you understand the desperation of soldiers and the tragic and inevitable path leading to the photographs from Abu Ghraib. This book is sure to incite and renew demands for accountability.” —Former Brigadier General Janis Karpinski
Aidan Delgado served with the U.S. Army Reserve in Iraq and is now an active member of Iraq Veterans Against the War and the Buddhist Peace Fellowship. A 2006 graduate of the New College of Florida, he lives in Sarasota, Florida.
Product Details
- Amazon Sales Rank: #40350 in Books
- Published on: 2007-08-15
- Original language: English
- Number of items: 1
- Binding: Hardcover
- 228 pages
Features
- ISBN13: 9780807072707
- Condition: USED - GOOD
- Notes:
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Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
Delgado, one of the few soldiers to gain conscientious objector status during the Iraq War, paints a grim picture of an army suffused with casual racism and capricious violence. After signing up to become an army reserve mechanic—he completed the paperwork on September 11, 2001, minutes before the first tower was hit—Delgado found himself drawn to Buddhism, and his faith ultimately clashed with the military service he faced in Iraq. Having lived in Egypt as a teenager, Delgado was alarmed by the ignorance of Islam and xenophobia among his fellow soldiers. He attributes those attitudes to the abuses at Abu Ghraib, where he was stationed for much of his tour of duty. Delgado's commander, who did not look favorably upon applications for CO status, took his body armor away and didn't return it, even when the unit was under continual mortar bombardment. This slim and readable volume is best when recounting the author's conversations, altercations and adventures in Iraq; his meditations on pacifism are sometimes repetitive and tendentious. In the end, he offers a welcome corrective to much of the aggressive rhetoric that has pervaded the debate over the war in Iraq. (Aug.)
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From Booklist
Delgado, the son of a diplomat, was raised in various countries, including Thailand and Egypt. After enlisting in the Army Reserve, he was sent to Iraq in 2003, and his knowledge of Arabic was deemed useful at the prison complex of Abu Ghraib. Eventually, deeply disturbed by the brutality and racism he encountered, he requested Conscientious Objector status and received an honorable discharge. He now actively campaigns against the war. Thankfully, his recounting of his experiences in Iraq avoids rants filled with self-righteous venom. Instead, he has written an honest, often moving chronicle of his political and religious evolution under the stress of war. He developed an affinity for Buddhism in Thailand and found his religious beliefs strengthened as his political objections to the war increased. Although he predictably relates the blunders of superior officers and the insensitivity or outright cruelty of some of his comrades, he also describes acts of kindness and courage by American soldiers. This is an absorbing and worthy story that offers one man's perspective on a conflict that continues to divide our nation. Freeman, Jay
Review
“an absorbing and worthy story that offers one man’s perspective on a conflict that continues to divide our nation.” Booklist, ALA
“Sutras is a remarkable book, a searing tale of a young man in completely over his head.” —Creative Loafing Sarasota
“This is a fascinating story about the mundane struggles of modern military service, the dehumanizing effects of war, and the courage of one young man to live by his conscience.”—Shambhala Sun
“Reading The Sutras of Abu Ghraib is disheartening and at times horrifying. Delgado does not bring to light any shocking new revelations about the Iraq war; no scandal will emerge from the book's publication.
What is most disturbing is the routine nature of it all: The soldiers are everyday people who have been conditioned to brutality. Delgado was just one of the hundreds of thousands of U.S. soldiers who have served in Iraq, and his book offers glimpses into their everyday lives.” —St. Petersburg Times
