It did not happen only in one or two occasions; this has been going on for months in prisons all over Iraq. Pentagon knew this on January 16 and may be even before through classified reports and some troops were already reprimanded. But the unfortunate fact is that the top hierarchy of the US military did not take appropriate measures to stop such atrocities by their troops. They failed to perform their command responsibilities. The people are now questioning the role and the responsibility of the political personalities including the Secretary of Defence. Traditionally, the Minister in charge takes the responsibility and resign, but here it did not happen.

As the classified reports on the torture and atrocities in the prison were already there, this meant that the top political hierarchy knew about them but still these atrocities continued. Secretary Rumsfeld said immediate actions were taken when the reports were in. What actions ? Reprimanding six soldiers? This was not enough. There was no identifiable strong measures to stop these abuses. Rumsfeld has rightly been asked to testify before the Arms Services Committee as being the defence minister he failed to act appropriately. As it seems even the President was not kept informed let alone informing the US Congress about them though America's name, fame and prestige were at stake. There was apparent breakdown of communications within the Administration. It would be worthwhile for the Armed Services Committee to find out whether this was a deliberate to cover up. The people should be told the correct story. Indeed, if CBS had not come up openly with these pictures, despite reported opposition from the Administration, the world would not have known them at all and the atrocities would have continued.

The wider question now being asked is why Saddam was accused of such torture and execution and was removed forcefully by unilateral attack when some of the US army people have been committing even graver atrocities to the people of another land and for no crime except that they were picked up for some security reasons. Some of the prisoners were interviewed by the CNN reporter and also others including the Red Cross and the stories that have been emerging everyday are absolutely horrifying. Saddam's military intelligence apparently tortured them and executed them but never humiliated them. But the present abominable mistreatment delivered by the US army in charge of Iraqi prisons violated all civil, military and also international laws. The prisoners said after all these shameful acts done under duress by them they are now in a very embarrassing situation before their family members. As it seems, one would prefer death to going through such shameful things. Another prisoner said as Muslims we can not and do not become naked before any one let alone before a camera which will show naked pictures all over the world. So it was extremely humiliating for them, which they did not face even under Saddam's rule. When I saw those pictures in the TV, tears rolled down my eyes; I am sure, all people around the world with good conscience had similar feelings on these ghastly acts the grave abuse of human dignity. Indeed, the whole civilisation stands morally assaulted and degraded.

The media and particularly some including the Daily Mirror in London severely criticised prisoner abuse by the British army personnel too. It seemed that British troops tried to maintain Blair's "special relation" with America and joined them in the prisoner abuse, but probably not in that scale as they were obviously aware of British peoples' strong reactions on such grave offences. The media has been particularly critical of US army's atrocities and said this is 'shame on America'. Even in the United States itself the people felt disgusted by the media pictures on army's inhumanly behaviour with those common people of Iraq.

President Bush himself expressed his "deep disgust" and asked for immediate investigation and punishment of the culprits. He also added that this not the way Americans do things. He expressed "abhorrence" over these while talking to two Arabic news channels. He initially said these are "mistakes" in a democracy. Surprising! The president of the United States is terming such grave offences and violation of human rights by his troops as "mistakes"! He, however, understood the gravity somewhat later when there was outcry from the Capitol Hill and other Americans. John Kelly asked President Bush to take appropriate responsibility. Some senior Senators asked for the resignation of Donald Rumsfeld. Senate majority leader Bill Frist a Tennessee Republican said, " The Prisoner abuse is so disgusting, so degrading, that I think humanity has been hurt broadly." Colin Powell also expressed his shock at these events and surely felt embarrassed as a retired soldier. Undoubtedly the feelings across America have been very bitter. Only yesterday, when he met King Abdullah of Jordan President Bush said "sorry" on the humiliation suffered by the Iraqis and their families. This was a correct step and may reduce the burden somewhat. But surprisingly he has asked Rumsfeld to continue in the Cabinet though privately he rebuked him The best course for Rumsfeld would be to resign immediately after his testimony to the Congress Committee today, Friday 07, 04.

The degree of damage done to American prestige is extremely high. It would take years to get over this, if at all possible. The world would expect an Independent Investigations, apart from military ones, to fix the responsibility on the people in the chain of command as there was a serious "failure of command responsibility" which certainly calls for legal actions and court marshal, as appropriate.

America has suffered a death blow in terms of its moral standing in this civilised world. It has indeed lost its face in the world political stage. The entire episode is a "great shame" on America and it would henceforth not be appropriate for America to accuse other countries of human rights violations.

Muslehuddin Ahmad is a former Secretary & Ambassador and presently the VC of Presidency University. He is also the Chairman of Civic Watch Bangladesh.