Sabrina Harman

Sabrina D. Harman, (born 5th January 1978), is a former U.S. army reservist, one of several soldiers convicted by the U.S. Army in connection with the 2003-2004 Abu Ghraib prisoner abuse scandal in Baghdad, Iraq during and after the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Harman, with other soldiers, was tried for allowing and inflicting sexual, physical, and psychological abuse of Iraqi prisoners of war. Harman held the rank of specialist in the 372nd Military Police company during her tour of duty in Iraq. She was sentenced to six months in prison and a dishonorable discharge.

Harman was born in Lorton, Virginia. Her father was a homicide detective, and the family often saw photos of dead people at crime scenes. Harman's mother, Robin, has been described as a "forensics buff."

After the September 11, 2001 attacks, Harman joined the Army Reserves and was assigned to the Cresaptown, Maryland-based 372nd Military Police company. Harman worked for a time as an assistant manager at Papa John's Pizza in Alexandria, Virginia, before her company was activated for duty in Iraq in February 2003, and was deployed to Fort Lee, Virginia for additional training; however, this was in combat support, not I/R, (military jargon for "internment and resettlement.")

Abu Ghraib scandal

The following are statements from Harman and others about what transpired:

"She said the prison had no standard operating procedures and on Tier 1A, where suspected insurgents were held, Army intelligence officers 'made the rules as they went.' "

" 'They would bring in one to several prisoners at a time already hooded and cuffed,' Harman said by e-mail this week from Baghdad. 'The job of the MP was to keep them awake, make it hell so they would talk.' "

"In his investigation into abuse at the prison, Taguba used a portion of Harman's sworn statement to conclude that prisoners had been abused. Harman 'stated ... regarding the incident where a detainee was placed on box with wires attached to his fingers, toes and penis, 'that her job was to keep detainees awake.' "

Harman is accused by the U.S. Army of:

• Photographing the corpse of Manadal al-Jamadi and then posing for a picture with it;
• Striking several prisoners by jumping on them as they lay in a pile;
• Writing "rapeist" [sic] on a prisoner's leg; and
• Attaching wires to a prisoner's hands while he stood on a box with his head covered and threatening electrocution if he fell.

And because of this she is charged under the Uniform Code of Military Justice with:

• Conspiracy;
• Dereliction of duty; and
• Cruelty and maltreatment.

Harman was represented by civilian lawyer and retired Air Force colonel Frank Spinner of Colorado Springs, Colorado, Colorado. She was convicted on six of the seven counts on May 16, 2005 with an acquittal on one of the maltreatment charges. Harman was sentenced to six months in prison with credit for 51 days already served and a bad conduct discharge.

An Army report obtained by The New Yorker magazine quotes testimony from Harman that her job was to keep detainees awake, including one hooded prisoner who was placed on a box with wires attached to his fingers, toes and genitals. In an interview by e-mail from Baghdad, she told the Washington Post it was made clear that her assignment was to break down the prisoners. Two prisoners sent testimony for her defence saying she was more gentle than other guards with Amjad Ismail Khalil al-Taie stating "She has no cruelty in her. Even though she is an American woman, she was just like a sister."

Harman's response

• As quoted in the Washington Post:

"[She] said she was assigned to break down prisoners for interrogation. "They would bring in one to several prisoners at a time already hooded and cuffed," Harman said in interviews by e-mail this week from Baghdad. "The job of the MP was to keep them awake, make it hell so they would talk." She said her military police unit took direction from the military intelligence officers in charge of the facility and from civilian contractors there who conducted interrogations."

• At her sentencing:

"As a soldier and military police officer, I failed my duties and failed my mission to protect and defend. I not only let down the people in Iraq, but I let down every single soldier that serves today. My actions potentially caused an increased hatred and insurgency towards the United States, putting soldiers and civilians at greater risk. I take full responsibility for my actions. ... The decisions I made were mine and mine alone."

Sources

• "She's No Stranger To Grisly Images (http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/05/10/iraq/printable616584.shtml)." CBS: 10 May 2003. 18 June 2004.
• Spinner, Jackie. "Soldier: Unit's Role Was to Break Down Prisoners (http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A9130-2004May7?language=printer)." Washington Post: 8 May 2004. 18 June 2004.
• Associated Press story on conviction (http://www.herald-review.com/articles/2005/05/16/ap/headlines/d8a4kthg0.txt)
• Reuters alert on sentence (http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N17575314.htm)