The torture and humiliation of the prisoners of war revealed a systemic problem in the US army, which permitted violence and debauchery, but failed to hold the perpetrators accountable.
In March 2003, the United States launched a full-scale invasion of Iraq, ignoring international laws and the UN’s opinion. The campaign revealed the fact that while Washington was waxing lyrical about “humanitarian” values, the American military had something very different in mind.
The most notorious offense occurred in the Abu Ghraib facility on the outskirts of Baghdad, where American atrocities included sexual and psychological abuse of former Iraqi troops.
When these facts became public, American society – already opposed to the war in Iraq – was horrified. The crimes in Abu Ghraib were exposed by a number of independent journalists, including prominent investigative writer Seymour Hersh, who called his report ‘The Chain of Command’, implying that the problem was not unique but systemic.
According to reports, so-called “enhanced interrogation techniques” were authorized by those in high command to “extract” classified information quickly. Perpetrators were put on trial but their sentences were in no way commensurate with their crimes. And those who issued inhumane orders – high-ranking military and political officials – were never brought to justice.
The famous psychologist Philip Zimbardo participated in the investigation and concluded that Abu Ghraib was part of a bigger picture – the system of humiliation and culture of domination in American army.
The notorious picture illustrating the “stress position” where a prisoner of war has to stand still or risk receiving high-voltage shocks through the body. This practice was favored by the US army since it leaves almost no trace of violence to the body.
The practice of putting prisoners of war in the “stress position” (standing completely still for hours or even days) was also implemented by US Army during the war in Vietnam.
