Aidan Delgado
Encyclopedia
Aidan Delgado is a lawyer and former soldier in the 320th Military Police Company of the United States Army
, best known for having become a conscientious objector
in April 2003 during his deployment to Iraq and for disclosing information about Abu Ghraib
.
. He claims to have signed his enlistment contract on September 11, 2001. He began a year-long tour in Iraq in April 2003, he was openly questioning whether he could participate in the war in Iraq good conscience, due to his newfound dedication to the principles of pacifism
espoused in his faith. He filed for conscientious objector status and continued to serve in Iraq while it was processed.
As the only member of his company who spoke Arabic, Delgado was in frequent contact with Iraqi civilians. Eventually he was transferred to Abu Ghraib where he claimed to have witnessed many abuses. The Army recognized his conscientious objector status and he was honorably discharged in April 2004.
on September 24, 2005 to participate in the rally organized by United for Peace and Justice
. He has also given many presentations on the abuses committed at the Abu Ghraib prison
, at which Delgado was stationed for six months though he was a mechanic and never entered the facility. His unit was also not allowed in the area where the alleged abuses occurred.
Delgado sparked considerable controversy when, upon his release from the Army and his return to the United States, he asserted, in an interview with The New York Times
columnist Bob Herbert
, to have witnessed egregious cases of abuse perpetrated against Iraq
i civilian
s by American soldiers. This included claims of drivers of tracked fighting vehicles deliberately running over dogs, and soldiers in Humvees breaking glass bottles over the heads of passing civilians. These claims were quickly disproven based on the physical impossibility of operating military vehicles in the manner described, and military regulations forbidding glass in combat vehicles.
After the Bob Herbert interview, Delgado provided a sworn statement and copies of photographs taken at Abu Ghraib to Army CID and IG investigators which he likely acquired third hand. The lead investigator was Army CID Agent David Lindstedt and lawyer Aaron Delgado from the Daytona law firm Simpson & Delgado was also present as legal council. Several months later, representatives of the military stated that they could neither confirm nor deny Delgado's account. During the investigation Army CID Agent David Lindstedt acknowledged that the incidents described by Delgado occurred, but disputed the context. In their report, Army CID investigators acknowledged that they had not interviewed some of the members of Delgado's unit that he had mentioned in the deposition as witnesses.
Since his involvement with the New York Times article and the publication of his story in national media, he has become one of the most visible and well-known veterans in the anti-war movement. Along with numerous television appearances he appears in the film "The Ground Truth
" by Focus Features and the revised edition of "Rush to War." In February 2006, blues guitar
ist Robert Cray
released a video for his song "Twenty," about the Iraq War, in which Delgado portrayed a soldier coming home. Delgado is one of the individuals featured in the documentary "Soldiers of Conscience" by Luna Productions, broadcast on the POV Series on PBS on October 16, 2008.
In 2007, Beacon Press published a memoir of his time at Abu Ghraib and his conscientious objection entitled The Sutras of Abu Ghraib.
Delgado speaks some Arabic, having spent eight years living in Egypt
, where his father, an American diplomat
, was assigned; he graduated from Cairo American College
in 2000. Delgado also lived in Thailand
and Senegal
. Delgado attained a Bachelor's Degree in Religion at the New College of Florida
in 2006.
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
, best known for having become a conscientious objector
Conscientious objector
A conscientious objector is an "individual who has claimed the right to refuse to perform military service" on the grounds of freedom of thought, conscience, and/or religion....
in April 2003 during his deployment to Iraq and for disclosing information about Abu Ghraib
Abu Ghraib
The city of Abu Ghraib in the Baghdad Governorate of Iraq is located just west of Baghdad's city center, or northwest of Baghdad International Airport. It has a population of 189,000. The old road to Jordan passes through Abu Ghraib...
.
Army career
Delgado states that he joined the Army Reserve while he was also investigating BuddhismBuddhism
Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
. He claims to have signed his enlistment contract on September 11, 2001. He began a year-long tour in Iraq in April 2003, he was openly questioning whether he could participate in the war in Iraq good conscience, due to his newfound dedication to the principles of pacifism
Pacifism
Pacifism is the opposition to war and violence. The term "pacifism" was coined by the French peace campaignerÉmile Arnaud and adopted by other peace activists at the tenth Universal Peace Congress inGlasgow in 1901.- Definition :...
espoused in his faith. He filed for conscientious objector status and continued to serve in Iraq while it was processed.
As the only member of his company who spoke Arabic, Delgado was in frequent contact with Iraqi civilians. Eventually he was transferred to Abu Ghraib where he claimed to have witnessed many abuses. The Army recognized his conscientious objector status and he was honorably discharged in April 2004.
After the Army
Delgado is actively involved in the anti-war movement. He has participated in numerous peace activities across the country, and led the 70-member "Florida For Peace" group to Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
on September 24, 2005 to participate in the rally organized by United for Peace and Justice
United for Peace and Justice
United for Peace and Justice is a coalition of more than 1,300 international and U.S.-based organizations opposed to "our government's policy of permanent warfare and empire-building."...
. He has also given many presentations on the abuses committed at the Abu Ghraib prison
Abu Ghraib prison
The Baghdad Central Prison, formerly known as Abu Ghraib prison is in Abu Ghraib, an Iraqi city 32 km west of Baghdad. It was built by British contractors in the 1950s....
, at which Delgado was stationed for six months though he was a mechanic and never entered the facility. His unit was also not allowed in the area where the alleged abuses occurred.
Delgado sparked considerable controversy when, upon his release from the Army and his return to the United States, he asserted, in an interview with The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
columnist Bob Herbert
Bob Herbert
Robert “Bob” Herbert is an American journalist op-ed columnist who wrote for The New York Times. His column was syndicated to other newspapers around the country. Herbert frequently writes on poverty, the Iraq war, racism and American political apathy towards race issues...
, to have witnessed egregious cases of abuse perpetrated against Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
i civilian
Civilian
A civilian under international humanitarian law is a person who is not a member of his or her country's armed forces or other militia. Civilians are distinct from combatants. They are afforded a degree of legal protection from the effects of war and military occupation...
s by American soldiers. This included claims of drivers of tracked fighting vehicles deliberately running over dogs, and soldiers in Humvees breaking glass bottles over the heads of passing civilians. These claims were quickly disproven based on the physical impossibility of operating military vehicles in the manner described, and military regulations forbidding glass in combat vehicles.
After the Bob Herbert interview, Delgado provided a sworn statement and copies of photographs taken at Abu Ghraib to Army CID and IG investigators which he likely acquired third hand. The lead investigator was Army CID Agent David Lindstedt and lawyer Aaron Delgado from the Daytona law firm Simpson & Delgado was also present as legal council. Several months later, representatives of the military stated that they could neither confirm nor deny Delgado's account. During the investigation Army CID Agent David Lindstedt acknowledged that the incidents described by Delgado occurred, but disputed the context. In their report, Army CID investigators acknowledged that they had not interviewed some of the members of Delgado's unit that he had mentioned in the deposition as witnesses.
Since his involvement with the New York Times article and the publication of his story in national media, he has become one of the most visible and well-known veterans in the anti-war movement. Along with numerous television appearances he appears in the film "The Ground Truth
The Ground Truth
The Ground Truth is a 2006 documentary film about veterans of the Iraq War...
" by Focus Features and the revised edition of "Rush to War." In February 2006, blues guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
ist Robert Cray
Robert Cray
Robert Cray is an American blues guitarist and singer. A five-time Grammy Award winner, he has led his own band, as well as an acclaimed solo career.-Career:...
released a video for his song "Twenty," about the Iraq War, in which Delgado portrayed a soldier coming home. Delgado is one of the individuals featured in the documentary "Soldiers of Conscience" by Luna Productions, broadcast on the POV Series on PBS on October 16, 2008.
In 2007, Beacon Press published a memoir of his time at Abu Ghraib and his conscientious objection entitled The Sutras of Abu Ghraib.
Delgado speaks some Arabic, having spent eight years living in Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
, where his father, an American diplomat
Diplomat
A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...
, was assigned; he graduated from Cairo American College
Cairo American College
Cairo American College is a K-12 American/International school located in Cairo, Egypt which aims to affirm the voice, passions, and talents of students and inspire them to use their hearts and minds as global citizens. CAC should not be confused with the or The school is located in Maadi, and...
in 2000. Delgado also lived in Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
and Senegal
Senegal
Senegal , officially the Republic of Senegal , is a country in western Africa. It owes its name to the Sénégal River that borders it to the east and north...
. Delgado attained a Bachelor's Degree in Religion at the New College of Florida
New College of Florida
New College of Florida is a public liberal arts college located in Sarasota, Florida. It was founded originally as a private institution and is now an autonomous honors college of the State University System of Florida.-History:...
in 2006.
Select speeches and interviews
- Democracy Now! Interview transcript
- In Motion Magazine Interview
- CounterPunch Interview
- Peace Corps On-line Interview
- DeweyHammond.com interview and transcript