David Warsh writes:

This is, in truth, a remarkably difficult moment for the United States, in its embarrassment over the widespread prisoner abuse in Iraq. If American military police had not been prepared to act severely toward their more defiant captives, they would have been derided as innocents who didn't know how to conduct a war against an army whose leadership had been hardened by a long bitter war with Iran. Since they acted brutally, they have been derided for having been inhumane (as indeed they were.)

Yes indeed. Whatever we do is wrong--well, unless we disband our government and let the lights of freedom at the UN (like Cuba, Sudan, and um, France) govern us.