One Woman's Army: The Commanding General of Abu Ghraib Tells Her Story

by Janis Karpinski

A provocative memoir and exposé by the commanding offiver of Abu Ghraib prison offers an inside accounts of the shocking and shameful abuse of Iraqi prisoners, detailing the corruption she discovered within the armed forces and private firms, her meeting with Saddam Hussein, and what life is really like for women in the armed forces. 100,000 first printing.

Genres: Military Fiction, Nonfiction, Autobiography, Gender, Memoir

256 pages, Paperback

First published October 12, 2005

Reviews

[Eleanor Cowan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Karpinsky's story of being set up is not an uncommon one.
When the pope needs to explain the pedophilia of a priest, the misuse of funds, or the reason women cannot become priests, etc. it's usually an upstanding, devoted, religious, blond-haired white woman who represents the firm.

Ever notice that criminals unaccompanied by their wives and mothers while committing their crimes, are often seen leaving the courtroom flanked by their loving moms, devoted wives, sisters, and daughters?

Yes, terrible things can happen under one's command, just as terrible abuses can go on in the basement of one's own home while a parent is upstairs doing the laundry and cooking dinner.

Most touching in this history is Karpinsky's willingness to take her part of responsibility while being blamed for the abuse of prisoners about which she knew nothing. Yes, she was there, she was in command, and sadly, she believed that those who worked alongside her were doing their jobs.
To blame one woman for the crimes at Abu Ghraib is a little too convenient, a little too pat, and a little too common. The irony is that a discriminated-against female commander is not considered irrelevant or unworthy at all when it comes time to blame. Right. It was Eve's fault.

I'm glad that Karpinsky, a victim of patriarchal injustice, wrote her detailed well-written account and this reader believes her entirely.

Eleanor Cowan, Author of A History of a Pedophile's Wife: Memoir of a Canadian Teacher and Writer

[Mare · Rating 3 out of 5]

Though this book does many things: defends her role in AG scandal, tells the events of her entire military career, overwhelmingly, it seeks to inform readers (particularly male readers who served in the U.S. Armed Forces and those who see the U.S. Armed Forces as for men only) of women’s roles and history in the military; of women’s treatment in the military by men of all ranks. To show what women face in terms of gender discrimination and how they make their own ways within a system that does not value but denigrates their very presence at, as Karpinksi is concerned, every chance they get. Her overall perspective is that she was never accepted in the military because of her sex and the way she performed her gender as a woman. And due to this in acceptance, she feels wrongfully accused — set up — within the AG scandal and other matters.

[Myriah · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting tale from the first woman general in command of a combat zone. Karpinski was also the general in charge of Abu Ghraib, the infamous Iraqi torture prison. Karpinksi writes the book about her career in the Army and in hopes of clearing her name from the scandal. Honestly, I hadn't heard of her until I saw the book. But when I googled her name, it came up with details of the prison torture.
Karpinski isn't the best storyteller, and some of her anecdotes fall a bit flat, but the history of her army career is quite eye-opening. As one of the ground-breakers in the Army in 1970s, she provides insight into women's climb up the ranks of the Army. Beyond the details of her career, Karpinski describes the rather atrocious conditions of Abu Ghraib and the entire prison system in Iraq. She attempts to pass off responsibility onto the commanders of military intelligence, claiming their methods and mentality resulted in the infamous torture at the prison. Not sure if I'm convinced, but it is an interesting read for details on Abu Ghraib from a leader's perspective on what went wrong.

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Brigadier in charge of Abu Gahrib tells her story, from start to finish. Along the way there are a few of the things you would expect: sexual harrassment and gender discrimination in the 1980s Big Army years and the struggle of holding a marriage between 2 soldiers together. There are also things you might not expect, including Karpinski's founding of the women's officer's candidate course in Kuwait during the first Persian Gulf War. The Abu Gahrib sections should be considered along with Erol Morris' film "Standard Operating Procedure," which is not sympathetic to Karpinski and yet draws many of the same conclusions.

This is a first rate read as well. Minimal acting by Bernadette Dunne, who has a soft mature voice that makes Karpinski feel warm and approachable. Her hard Ds and Ts suggest Karpinski's New Jersey upbringing -- the hard girl made good, until it all falls in.

Try reading more Iraq memoirs. They are not hard to find, though they can be hard to take.

[Erik · Rating 2 out of 5]

Partly a defense of her role in the human rights abuses at Abu Ghraib and partly an account of her rise to becoming a one star general serving in wartime, this is a surprisingly readable account and memoir. It seems clear that the military made her a scapegoat but her rise through the ranks serves as a model for all ambitious women pursuing that career.

[Lydia · Rating 5 out of 5]

A strong and level-headed woman tells her side of the story. It's very motivational and I learned a lot from it. She tells her opinions and the flat-out truth unapologetically, and offers no room for compromise when it comes to what she believes.

[Debra Mendez · Rating 3 out of 5]

I gave her a three because I feel like the book gave a good account of the policies that impacted the detention operations throughout Iraq. She missed the mark on giving an in depth account of how those policies impacted the ability of soldiers that were "boots on the Ground" at Abu Ghraib. I did not need to read the book to tell me about how she was treated as she climbed the ranks, as an officer. I lived it myself on the enlisted side.
I was at Abu Ghraib prison and the first and only time I met General Karpinski was when she showed up in my tower on Christmas Day of 2003. She had an entourage with her and everyone wanted to take pictures with her. She stood in my tower while the capabilities demonstration was happening. Two helicopters hovered over the Ganci camp while soldiers rappelled down a rope. The helicopters were supposed to hover over previously placed marks to the left of compound one and two. The helicopter missed its mark on compound two causing two tents and clothing to come crashing down around prisoners. I do not recall her storming out of my tower demanding to know what happened and barking orders for someone to help put the tents back up. She leisurely walked out of my tower once she was finished taking pictures. She was a General, for goodness sake, and although she states in her book that she called Col Pappas over and demanded to know what happened, I do not remember that event occurring. Prisoners had to clean up the mess and put their own tents back up.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting, honest portray of a woman's climb up the ladder within the Army . Published 2005. Was scape goat for atrocities performed by personnel at Abu Ghraib Prison.

[Louise Silk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Karpinski was the general in command of Abu Ghraib, the infamous Iraqi torture prison. The book is an honest look at what went wrong at Abu Ghraib but more than that it is the story of what it's like to be a female in a male dominated military.

Karpinski tells all about her struggles to keep her femininity within a macho military machine, how she came to join the military police and her experiences in the Middle East including being awarded a Bronze Star in the 1st Iraqi war.

I don't know how I came to the book at this moment but it seems quite relevant to the current election comparing republicans and democrats statements about women's rights. Karpinski shows that we still have a long way to go.

[Stacy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A well written book that is enjoyable to read. I think it could inspire interesting discussions in a book club.