'We Were Supposed to Humiliate Them' (Der Spiegel Abu Ghraib Interview)

[Khephra]

'We Were Supposed to Humiliate Them'
By CAROLIN EMCKE,
Der Spiegel

Published: August 30, 2004


Interview with US Staff Sergeant Ivan Frederick on torture at Baghdad's Abu Ghraib prison.

SPIEGEL: Since the images of torture at Abu Ghraib became public, you have had a lot of time, while detained in Baghdad, to think about your actions. Today, how do you view what you did - as a disgrace for America?

Frederick: I am very upset and depressed about what happened. I'm not a sadist. My family and my friends will attest to that. I was always proud to be defending America. In doing so, I made a lot of sacrifices in the past twenty years, especially since the attacks of September 11. I have always served my country well, even in Iraq - until we were transferred to Abu Ghraib and things got out of control.

SPIEGEL: What was the prison like when you arrived there in October 2003?

Frederick: As soon as I walked into that place the first time, I knew it was a nightmare. There was dirt everywhere, the toilets didn't work, and it stank. The food was terrible. The chicken wasn't cooked properly. It was still raw. We worked twelve hours a day, seven days a week. And we only had five soldiers for 1,000 prisoners. We had no place to unload our stress. Morale was generally miserable.

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/30/international/europe/30SPIEGEL.html

[lebkuchen]

1. Interesting that "Chip" gave his interview to Der Spiegel

Perhaps he felt the US media would ignore his story? I don't blame him.