Alumnus' New Book Recounts Iraq Experiences

(July 20, 2007) – A 2006 New College of Florida graduate who served in the U.S. Army Reserve in Iraq before receiving conscientious-objector status recounts his experiences in a new book, "The Sutras of Abu Ghraib: Notes from a Conscientious Objector in Iraq," published by Beacon Press of Boston.

Aidan Delgado, 26, had completed his freshman year at New College, but feeling restless and unfocused, decided to become a reservist. He signed his contract on the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, just as the hijacked planes struck in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania. Some months later, he was deployed to Iraq where he served as a mechanic with the 320th Military Police in Nasiriyah and in Abu Ghraib prison.

In 2005, Delgado was the focus of two New York Times articles by columnist Bob Herbert in which he recounted his claims of prejudice and abuse toward unarmed Iraqi civilians by U.S. soldiers and of harassment he endured during his yearlong deployment in Iraq. In 2004 when he returned to the United States, he became an outspoken war critic.

Delgado, as the son of an American diplomat, had spent much of his life abroad, living in Thailand, Senegal and Egypt. During his military service, he was able to speak Arabic and to interact with civilian Iraqis. Delgado, however, became disillusioned by the war and sought solace in studying Buddhism. He also sought conscientious-objector status, which he was granted along with an honorable discharge by the Army.

Today, he lives in Sarasota and is an active member of Iraq Veterans Against the War and the Buddhist Peace Fellowship.

A presentation by Delgado will be held Tuesday, Sept. 4, at 7 p.m. in the Sudakoff Center at New College. He is scheduled to appear Sept. 6 at 7 p.m. at Inkwood Books in Tampa and Oct. 27 at the St. Petersburg Times Festival of Reading in St. Petersburg.

The book is expected to be available in bookstores during the first week of August.

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