Photos of torture reach Iraq

[JoFerret]

http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/world/ny-wobagh013781614may01,0,1794866.story?coll=ny-worldnews-headlines

May 1, 2004

BAGHDAD, Iraq - When he heard about the photos showing U.S. troops abusing Iraqi prisoners, Ghaleb Ribahi fumed. After he saw them with his own eyes, he understood why some Iraqis are fighting the U.S.-led occupation.

"These are the things that make Iraqis pick up a weapon and want to kill American soldiers," said Ribahi, 32, sipping sweet tea at a Baghdad coffeehouse Friday evening. "When I saw those pictures, I wanted to pick up a weapon, too."

After two major Arab satellite channels led their newscasts with photos of prisoners being humiliated by U.S. military police at Abu Ghraib prison, the pictures were the talk of Baghdad's coffeehouses, markets and kebab joints.
....
For Iraqis, Abu Ghraib carries enormous symbolism. It was Saddam Hussein's most notorious prison, where torture, humiliation and executions were routine. Under Hussein's rule, Iraqis spoke of the place in hushed voices. Many were afraid to utter its name.

An Iraqi saying captured people's attitude toward Abu Ghraib: "Whoever goes in is lost. Whoever comes out is reborn."

The photos .... An Al-Jazeera anchorwoman introduced them by saying they showed the "immoral and inhumane practices" of U.S. forces in Iraq.
....

Despite the military's efforts to punish the soldiers, analysts say the pictures will long be etched into Iraqis' memories.

"Those pictures reminded people of Saddam's abuses," said Ali Abdel-Ameer, editor of Baghdad, a daily newspaper published by a pro-U.S. Iraqi political party. "This is not something that Iraqis will be able to forget easily."

[SodoffBush]

1. The American gatekeepers of Abu Ghraib have screwed their fellow soldier

Of course, they were also a product of Bush's culture of hatred and humiliation.

[JoFerret]

2. Yep. Fish rots from the head down

Impeach Bush and Cheney. Fire Rumsfeld and Wolfowitz.

[riverwalker]

3. Wolfowitz' dream

Paul Wolfowitz, this is your PNAC delusion come true. You've been planning this since 1998 when you wrote that letter to Clinton. Transform the Middle East, to keep precious Israel safe. Usually psychotic sociopaths are locked up and medicated heavily. You get promoted, given more power and our military to play with, to make your hallucinations our new reality. Iraq was your obsession, this is at your door, the blood is on your hands.

[johnfunk]

4. Criminal soldiers and mercs

How I wish I knew exactly who these soldiers and mercenaries behind the photos are.

I'd write them all a nice little letter explaining how they gave Al Jazeera and every other anti-American Arab press outlet their best anti-US propaganda yet -- and I'd make sure to point out that I've copied my local US Attorney's office with a cover letter arguing that these soldiers who violated their oaths of service and mercenaries who undermined our efforts in Iraq should be charged with treason.

[Moderator]

5. locking

discuss here

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=521648