Abu Ghraib Research Paper

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In 2004, leaked information began to flood the American media with disturbing imageries coming out of a POW prison camp stationed in a town known as Abu Ghraib, located in Iraq. These images illustrated physical, psychological, and sexual abuse of the prisoners being detained in the prison complex. In addition to these claims, evidence of rape, sodomy, murder, and prolonged torture were correspondingly reported to have accord over a duration of time. After a short, but cumbersome investigation into these reported scandals, the physical, psychological, and sexual abuse of the prisoners at Abu Ghraib is, overall, an accurate reflection of the behavior of the U.S. military. However, most critics will direct the behavior of the indicted wrongdoers within the Abu Ghraib scandal on a number of factors. For instance, the chain of command may be brought into question. Milgram’s study on obedience to authority is viewed as an underling factor to these immoral acts. On the other hand, another well-known study, the Stanford Prison Experience shows support for abuse being due to situational context. Nevertheless, with …show more content…
The notorious prison, Abu Ghraib which is located 30 kilometers west of Baghdad, Iraq, was once under direct control of Saddam Hussein himself. During his reign as the leader of Iraq, the prison held a population of roughly 50,000 prisoners; men and women. These prisoners were situated in poor conditions and executions were not an uncommon occurrence. After the collapse of Saddam Hussein’s control over the nation, the prison was later occupied by the United Sates Army, which revamped the building and transformed it into a prison designated for prisoners of wars (POWs). Of the numerous detention centers in Iraq being utilized by the U.S. military at the time, Abu Ghraib is the largest. During the initial occupation of Iraq, the U.S. military housed approximately 7,500 detainees in the year 2004 at Abu
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