Washington's self-proclaimed guardians of international human rights are facing a serious credibility crisis.

The United States has been the target of severe condemnation at home and abroad since photographs of inhumane treatment of Iraqi prisoners at Abu Ghraib prison were made public on April 28.

The abuses and humiliations heaped on Iraqi prisoners include being bound in the sun for hours, being attacked by dogs and being stacked naked in a pyramid.

The images clearly torpedo America's high-sounding words and phony righteousness.

Legitimacy of the US-led war against Iraq aside, the United States repeatedly pledged to the international community that a post-Saddam Iraq would enjoy real democracy, stability and prosperity. But so far the exact opposite has been the case, as the country endures endless bloodshed, chaos and poverty in the wake of the war.

Inhumane treatment of prisoners of war (POWs) is unacceptable even in uncivilized societies.

Just two months ago the US reacted strongly to video on the Al-Jazeer Satellite Channel of American prisoners being humiliated. After those images were released, the Bush administration severely criticized the behaviour of the captors and said their actions were a blatant violation of the Geneva Convention regarding treatment of POWs.

Bush's position at that time was understandable as many would agree that all human beings deserve to be treated with dignity, regardless of the circumstances.

Bush and his colleagues, including Secretary of Defence Ronald Rumsfled, another main architect of the Iraq War, certainly owe the world a convincing explanation for the horrendous treatment Iraqi prisoners have suffered under American control.

Bush and Rumsfeld have both stated the abuses represent individual acts by a handful of soldiers and do not reflect US military policy. They have also promised to bring those responsible to justice.

The hawkish Rumsfeld also acknowledged his responsibility for the torture and abuse and apologized to the victims.

Perhaps it is the Bush administration's expectation that a public trial of the perpetrators will convince Iraqis and the rest of the world that the United States does not tolerate tortures reminiscent of the Saddam Hussein regime.

The Abu Ghraib prison was used by Saddam to detain opposition critics.

But the Bush administration's contention that the abusive treatment is the work of a minority of soldiers remains in doubt.

Last summer the Amnesty International human rights organization reported it learned that Red Cross inspectors had discovered serious abuses were taking place at Abu Ghraib, and repeatedly demanded that US authorities move to rectify the situation. But the Americans took no action.

It may be a little unfair to say the Bush administration, a self-proclaimed champion of human rights, is directly responsible for the physical and psychological torture of Iraqi prisoners, but it should nonetheless shoulder the blame for such intolerable behaviour.

The arrogant posturing of the Bush government in the international community undoubtedly contributes much to the misconduct of its military forces in Iraq.

These despicable acts were not only an indignity to the victims, but an indignity to civilized society and the US administration in particular.

(China Daily 05/11/2004 page6)