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