There have long been rumours that coalition forces in Iraq have been mistreatng and even torturing Iraqi prisoners.
Human Rights agencies have suggested that there is a culture of abuse within the military and that these incidents are wide-spread.
I suppose everyone has seen these photos now - the first clear evidence that incidences of abuse are taking place within Iraq. They include graphic images of Iraqi prisoners forced to pose naked, in humiliating and often sexual positions by U.S. troops.
One prisoner was forced to stand on a cardboard box with wires attached to his fingers. He was allegedly told that if he fell off the box, he would be electrocuted.
Today further pictures have emerged which appear to show British soldiers mis-treating prisoners. In one photograph a soldier seems to be unrinating on a captive.
I have access to both BBC World and CNN in my hotel room and noted the significant time lag between the BBC reporting these atrocities and CNN's eventual reportage of the incident.
I think the thing that disgusted me the most when I first saw the pictures was the fact that the soldiers who were committing these acts of torture were clearly enjoying themselves.
Yesterday I was drinking in a cafe. There were a lot of Muslims there and these photos were beiong aired on the TV - Arabic stations are broadcasting these pictures around the clock.
I was surprised by the amount of measured discussion that appeared to be taking place. Obviously I couldn't understand what people were saying. All I know is that I drank my coffee and ate my cake and no one threatened me or used me as a convenient whipping boy for the actions of soldiers from my country and their allies.
A large proportion of the Muslim community is pretty philosophical and peaceful. I've had some very involved discussions about very sensitive issues without resorting to argument or abuse.
All the same, I think the broadcast of these photos has done more harm than anything that has happened in Iraq thus far. I think marks the point where the coalition loses the war. They may eventually stabilize Iraq, but these images are going to stay with the Muslim community for a long time. The next generation of extremists have seen these photos.
