Joe Darby - Hero or Villain?

[FinallyDomesticated]

So I was flipping tonight and came across "Exposing the Truth of Abu Ghraib." It was an interview with the guy who exposed the prisoner abuse/photos - Joe Darby.

Here is a link:

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/12/07/60minutes/main2238188.shtml

This guy has been called a traitor and worse, was forced to move away from his hometown, lost friends and family over what we would usually see as a good deed. One of the guys in the interview essentially said that by helping the enemy instead of his buddies, he was a traitor.

The negative response intrigues me.

I'm curious how others feel. Should he have kept quiet? Do you think the military should have handled it without bringing attention to him? Would you be mad at him if he were your neighbor or cousin?

[Suppa Hobbit Mage]

How humanely do you think the terrorists are treating our prisoners? Oh wait, they kill them...

That being said he did the right thing. The world hates us for inhumane treatment of prisoners (and they should) and yet cutting off heads and blowing up civilians is hardly talked about. It's hard to fix the world when we can't even police our own forces from mistreating prisoners (part of me thinks its ok, part of me doesn't).

[Tisket]

The Military Whistleblower Protection Act, Title 10 U.S.C. 1034 should've protected this dude from having his identity revealed. It failed. I think the investigators responsible for letting his identity become public should be prosecuted.

[Apathy]

The Military Whistleblower Protection Act, Title 10 U.S.C. 1034 should've protected this dude from having his identity revealed. It failed. I think the investigators responsible for letting his identity become public should be prosecuted.

Yeah that.

But I wouldn't be his friend anymore either.

[AestheticDeath]

Yeah, I think blowing the whistle on someone who is abusing prisoners was the right thing to do. But I dont like the fact that the name of the informant was made public.

You have to do whats right, even if it costs you your friends.

[Tisket]

I don't know if I would've done it had I been in his position if I was uncertain about having my ID protected. Risks to my family's safety isn't acceptable.

Oh and as far as the OP's question...I don't think this guy is a hero OR a villain. He's just a guy that stumbled on some sensitive information. He did the right thing by turning it in but that no more makes him a hero than obeying traffic laws makes me a hero. Doing right should be the norm not the exception.

[Tannious]

Well he did what was right. Also did it in the way that he should've. But the military/government really let him down on the release of his name. I can't say how I'd react if he was my friend/neighbor. But honestly if I found stuff like that I'm not sure I could keep quiet myself.

[xtc]

The Military Whistleblower Protection Act, Title 10 U.S.C. 1034 should've protected this dude from having his identity revealed. It failed. I think the investigators responsible for letting his identity become public should be prosecuted.

Bingo!

[Fallen]

The question is, did he go to the press first, or go through his chain of command?

[Skeeter]

I don't remember the specifics of what was going on, but off the top of my head I can't think of anything as bad as what the NYPD do to people.

He should've kept his mouth shut.

[Goretawn]

The question is, did he go to the press first, or go through his chain of command?

Read the article. It is in there.

I find myself agreeing with Tisket. He is neither hero or villain. He is an MP that has sworn an oath. His job is to ensure that the regulations of the United States Army are being followed. He found a crime, and he turned in the criminals. He did his job, plain and simple. He does deserve cudos for having the balls to come forth and turn in his "friends", but to label him a hero is a bit extreme.

I would hope that any Soldier would have done the same thing. It is their/our job to ensure that the regulations are followed.

I also find it disheartening that his leadership failed him by releasing his name. Wrong answer there and an investigation should be initiated.

I feel worse for his wife who had to deal with it alone till he came home. He is lucky to have such a good woman by his side.

[radamanthys]

Should have been a military matter, not a media one.

[Landrion]

I dont know if I would have had the courage to do what he did. Im sad that hes being penalized/ostracised for it, but I admire that his personal sacrifice stopped an injustice.

[TheEschaton]

Cause the military always does what's right in that sorta situation...

...I mean, come on, you've seen A Few Good Men, haven't you?

-TheE-

[Goretawn]

Cause the military always does what's right in that sorta situation...

...I mean, come on, you've seen A Few Good Men, haven't you?

-TheE-

LOL

Never said it always happens. It should, but where in this universe does something ALWAYS happen the way it was intended? Well, other then a porno having nudity that is.

[Tisket]

Cause the military always does what's right in that sorta situation...

...I mean, come on, you've seen A Few Good Men, haven't you?

Well that has to be the stupidest point you've ever tried to make...for every movie that depicts the military in a negative light I can list dozens that show the military in a positive way.

I'm not surprised that you feel the only time the right thing might be done is under a spotlight...

[Daniel]

LOL

Never said it always happens. It should, but where in this universe does something ALWAYS happen the way it was intended? Well, other then a porno having nudity that is.

Yea, this isn't ALWAYS a good thing either.

[FinallyDomesticated]

I agree that he did a good thing. I would think it would have been a hard decision to make and I think it took bravery to stand up for morals in that situation. I also think it was a smart decision because after the pictures were handed to him - had he not said something, he would have been just as guilty as the abusers were.

I feel bad for him and his wife. I think the government could have done more to protect them from the negative response.

The people who took the pictures were simply acting like idiots and having fun at the expense of those who were under their power, in their care. It was humiliating, abusive treatment of other humans for fun. That is wrong and therefore, he was right to report.

If there had been no pictures (aka trophies of their fun activities), I think I might feel differently. I mean, I have never understood polite, politically correct, follow the rules war. To me, war is more of a 'I want X. Give me X or I'll kick your ass. Okay, so you don't want to give me X. Its on. Good luck surviving.' Its not pretty. Its brutal and if you are unfortunate enough to be caught in the war zone, may God bless your soul because its war and there is no telling what will happen to you.

[TheEschaton]

Ah yes, the old "We're at war, so let's throw ALL rules out the window" idea.

There IS an idea that war can be just, and do good. I don't subscribe to it, but people do believe that, and one of its main tenets is that you treat prisoners with respect.

-TheE-

[Landrion]

Ah yes, the old "We're at war, so let's throw ALL rules out the window" idea.

There IS an idea that war can be just, and do good. I don't subscribe to it, but people do believe that, and one of its main tenets is that you treat prisoners with respect.

-TheE-

God help me, Im going to agree with you.

While I do feel the frustration that many of us do in seeing our troops attacked with methods that we are not free to retaliate with, the last thing I want to see is for out troops to do barbaric things.

Treating helpless and captured people with cruelty is beneath us. Yes it is wrong when such things are done to prisoners from our side but that doesn't justify using the same methods. We are not barbarians, even when subjected to barbarism.

Believe me, I dont lack for anger at our enemies. I dont advocate seeing them coddled. But more than that I dont want our troops to engage in cruelty.