That’s the best thing we could do to show the world we won’t tolerate such behavior on the part of our troops. From CNN, it appears it is an even bigger problem than we know.

London-based Amnesty International said it hoped the images apparently showing detainees being mistreated would force the U.S. and British governments to launch an independent investigation into the abuse claims.

The allegations surfaced Wednesday when the American network CBS broadcast images allegedly showing Iraqis stripped naked, hooded and being tormented by their U.S. captors at an Iraqi prison.

And on Saturday a newspaper in London published photos it said were of British troops kicking, stamping and urinating on a hooded Iraqi in Basra, southern Iraq, where Britain has about 7,500 soldiers.

The images have sparked anger among Muslims across the world while both U.S. President George W. Bush and UK Prime Minister Tony Blair said they were appalled by them.

But Nicole Choueiry, Amnesty’s Middle East spokeswoman, said the group had detailed “scores” of reports of ill-treatment over the past year but the U.S.-led Coalition Provisional Authority in Iraq had ignored them.

“We have said there are patterns of torture by coalition forces,” Choueiry told CNN on Sunday.

“The only good thing to come out of this would be if the pictures forced the coalition to launch an independent investigation and for its findings to be published in full.”

And that would be a good thing especially if those involved get exactly what they deserve.

“Such despicable acts prove the double standards of America, a country that always preaches about human rights to the rest of the world,” said Nasharuddin Isa, secretary general of the fundamentalist Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party, the country’s largest opposition political group.

Nasharuddin said the images showed “an unforgivable violation” of the Geneva Conventions, which govern the handling of captives.

“The U.S. and British troops must leave Iraq immediately,” Nasharuddin told The Associated Press.

That would be a mistake. Swift action against those involved in these crimes against the Iraqi people is the proper course as is restitution to the Iraqis for such criminal behavior. If we can’t show that we’re any better than Saddam’s thugs, it will bode ill as we will reap justice Arab style. Wonder if this will be the kicker that sparks full out war of the nuclear kind?

The U.S. military said six soldiers had been charged with criminal offenses for abusing inmates at Abu Ghraib prison, which was infamous under Saddam Hussein’s reign.

“It would appear to us that if, in fact, the pictures are what they appear to be, they will face a court of law, a criminal court of law, and they will have to face a judge and a jury for their actions,” Brig. Gen. Mark Kimmitt said.

…President Bush Friday expressed disgust at the images, saying the apparent mistreatment of the Iraqi prisoners “does not reflect the nature of the American people. That’s not the way we do things in America.”

Wonder how long it’s going to take people to connect the dots and wonder about our treatment of detainees in Guantanamo? Not that they haven’t already complained about that.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair said any abuse of Iraqi prisoners was “completely and totally unacceptable” and, if the photographs proved to be genuine, he would “condemn it utterly.”

“We went to Iraq to get rid of that sort of thing, not to do it,” Blair said.

“I think in fairness however, we should say, that there are thousands of British troops in Iraq doing a very brave, extraordinary job on behalf of the Iraqi people and on behalf of our country to make the country better,” he added.

British Army commander Gen. Michael Jackson, speaking on behalf of Britain’s minister of defense, said he was aware of the allegations regarding British troops and that the Ministry of Defense had launched an investigation.

“If proven, not only is such appalling conduct clearly unlawful, but it also contravenes the British Army’s high standards of conduct,” Jackson said in a statement.

Even the British are involved and I read something in the paper where Intelligence services may have been behind it.

Dara Nor al-Din, a former judge and member of the U.S.-appointed Iraqi Governing Council, said the torture of prisoners and detainees or showing them naked contradicts principles of human rights.

“We used to criticize Saddam’s regime regarding the beating of detained people, so why should we accept to repeat the same tragedy. This is not acceptable,” Nor al-Din told AP.

Condemnation of these actions appears pretty much universal as it should be.

“America justified its invasion of Iraq by saying the country was under a dictatorship. Unfortunately, Americans are now torturing the Iraqi people in the same place Saddam tortured them,” he said.

This coup pretty much wipes out most of the good we have done and can do. These people behaved almost as badly as Saddam’s troops, not sure if frat hazings come close (I’ve heard stories), but definitely not civilized and not proper behavior for our military police. There is no need to torture them, interrogate maybe but even then, only higher ups that may be able to give some valuable information not ordinary Iraqis. I had thought we left the torture to our less civilized allies so we don’t dirty our lily white hands. Guess I was wrong. I am thoroughly disgusted by this turn of events.

Lots more commentary and pictures over at Argghhh!.