The Sutras of Abu Ghraib
Somewhere behind me there must be a line, a line separating Abu Ghraib from the rest of the world, a line marking the end of my time in that prison and the beginning of whatever else is to come for me. Further back still, there was another line: a line that is vague and shifting, a line drawn faintly in the sand. It's the sort of line that you don't see until you're standing right on top of it, and even then it's hard to make out clearly. This is the line that every one of us, every soldier, has to face. On the near side is the man you were. On the far side is a stranger; the far side is the man that war made you. We all come to this line, at one time or another, and we have to make a choice. No one can make it for us. We either see that line and turn back, turn back to our true natures, or else we step over it…
A young man's transformation from Army Reserve volunteer to Buddhist conscientious objector and critic of the war in Iraq
The Sutras of Abu Ghraib is the story of a soldier who refused to succumb to violence. In chronicling the struggles of military life and the dehumanizing effects of war, Aidan Delgado examines the attitudes that make prisoner abuse possible and explores his own developing Buddhist beliefs against a brutal backdrop. It is a tale of physical bravery, moral courage, and the cost of holding on to your identity while everyone around you is losing theirs.
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."
Reviews
Publishers Weekly - May 21, 2007
"he offers a welcome corrective to much of the aggressive rhetoric that has pervaded the debate over the war in Iraq."
Booklist - August 1, 2007
"an absorbing and worthy story that offers one man's perspective on a conflict that continues to divide our nation."
San Francisco Chronicle - August 5, 2007
"He peels away the layers of warfare and Army life, letting readers draw their own conclusions. He offers candid opinions without riding the high horse. The war is his antithesis, but many of its soldiers are his friends."
Creative Loafing Sarasota - August 8, 2007
"Sutras is a remarkable book, a searing tale of a young man in completely over his head."
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