GI Who Exposed Abu Ghraib Feared Revenge (Rumsfeld mentioned his name)

[Omaha Steve]

Full story: http://apnews.excite.com/article/20060810/D8JDN2BG0.htm...

GI Who Exposed Abu Ghraib Feared Revenge
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Aug 10, 1:47 PM (ET)

By RICHARD PYLE

NEW YORK (AP) - The soldier who triggered the Abu Ghraib prisoner abuse scandal by sending incriminating photos to military investigators says he feared deadly retaliation by other GIs and was shocked when Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld mentioned his name at a Senate hearing.

Within days, Joe Darby was spirited out of Iraq at his own request. But his family was besieged by news media, and close relatives called him a traitor. Ultimately he was forced to move away from his hometown in western Maryland.

"I had the choice between what I knew was morally right and my loyalty to other soldiers. I couldn't have it both ways," the 27-year-old military policeman said in the just-released September issue of Gentleman's Quarterly.

In an interview with The Associated Press on Wednesday, Darby said that if presented with the same circumstances at Abu Ghraib today, he would do the same thing. "It was a hard decision to make when I made it, but it had to be done," he said.

[fasttense]

1. Wow what a brave man.

And Rumsfeld outed him. Just another outing by the bushes of a growing list of patriots.

[architect359]

2. wtf??!?

Oh, that's just great, that is. Rumsfeld's just ducky. Isn't there a law against this? Probably not. Rumsfeld's move just smacks of maliciousness. What a great guy.

[Rose Siding]

3. Sy Hersh named Darby first, according to this article

snip>
His worst moment, he said, came on May 7, 2004, during lunch with 10 fellow MPs in a mess hall filled with 400 troops.

"It was like something out of a movie," he recalled. Rumsfeld appeared on television, dropped Darby's name, "and the guys at the table just stopped eating and looked at me. I got up and got the hell out of there."

Only later did he learn he had been named in a New Yorker magazine article a few days earlier, he told AP in the telephone interview.
__________________

Such a tragedy -This guy can't even go home.

snip>
Darby is scheduled to leave the Army and the Reserves, after eight years of duty, on Aug. 31. He no longer lives in his hometown of Cumberland, Md., where "a lot of people up there view me as a traitor. Even some of my family members think I'm a traitor."

He said he has returned home only twice, for a wedding and his mother's funeral.

"I'm not welcome there. People there don't look at the fact that I knew right from wrong," he said. "They look at the fact that I put an Iraqi before an American

[brentspeak]

17. Hersh was a total idiot and jerk for spilling the soldier's name

That doesn't excuse Rumsfeld, of course, but Sy Hersh cared more about his track record as "Scoop Hersh" than he did about the consequences for Darby.

[dailykoff]

4. This guy's got guts.

Joe Darby, you are a patriot. Rummy is slime.

[Phrogman]

5. They were going to give him the Tillman treatment

that convenient friendly fire excuse

[Pierre Trudeau]

6. Joe Darby, I remember him

He's one of the few heroes in this whole sorry mess.

It's a shame he can't even live in his hometown, where they consider him a traitor.

I'm glad to see this article because I'd been worried about him... it seemed symptomatic that everyone knew who Lynndie England was, but Draby dropped into a black hole in the public consciousness. Good to know he's still alive... and talking!

[Tsiyu]

7. I have to say that

Darby is THE bravest man I have ever heard of in 47 years on earth.

[Roland99]

8. K&R for a true Patriot!

[ShortnFiery]

9. Bless him ... he's a wonderful example of humanity in action. eom

[NotGivingUp]

10. Way to go, Joe!

[liberty_grl_2006]

11. Support for Joe

I found a website set up for sending messages of support to Joe Darby. I think it's disgraceful the way he has been treated. Please, take the time to go and show your support for Joe. I'm sure he could use some friendly words...

http://www.thanksjoedarby.com

[Omaha Steve]

12. Thank you

Why didn't somebody do this sooner?

[newyawker99]

14. Hi liberty_grl_2006!!

Welcome to DU!!

[liberty_grl_2006]

15. Thanks!

Thanks for the welcome...it's a great site, and really active!

[samsingh]

13. rummy the dummy was sending a message

like his bosses were to Ambassador Wilson by outing his wife.

[brentspeak]

16. A good man

He did what he was supposed to do as a responsible soldier, and yet there are philistines calling him a "traitor".

[Anakin Skywalker]

18. Uh Oh. Another Outting.

Yet another revenge outting ala "Valerie Plame". Rethuglicans are such scums.

[goforit]

19. Hard to find real heros today like this man.