Abu Ghraib Scandal: Impact on the Army Profession and the Intelligence Process

摘要

For much of the Spring and Summer of 2004, what came to be known as the Abu Ghraib Prison Scandal dominated national and international headlines. Allegations of physical and emotional abuses by U.S. military personnel against Iraqi detainees in the Abu Ghraib prison shocked the world and led to calls for investigations, punishments, resignations, and war policy adjustments. This paper examines the impact of the abuses on the U.S. Army as a profession. In addition, the paper considers the ramifications of the abuses on the intelligence collection process. The Army suffered professionally, and intelligence collection was adversely affected as a result of the actions committed at Abu Ghraib. The author concludes with an assessment of recommendations provided by various investigative panels in terms of whether or not they will correct the negative impact Abu Ghraib has had on Army professionalism and intelligence collection.