It seems that the views of folks taking a larger view of the situation seem to converge.

And it seems obvious that whatever may have been gained by Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo has been more than countered by the loss of credibility and trust of the rest of the world.

For to be really safe in this world, one needs friends. One needs to be perceived as better than the badguys, not just another one of 'em.

Like it or not.

He said in his report that "for political and other reasons, the [Bush] Administration, the CPA [Coalition Provisional Authority] and US command emphasised quantity over quality to the point where unprepared Iraqis were sent out to die."

Bad planning

Mr Cordesman also came to wider conclusions: "The report documents a tragic US failure to develop a strategy during the first year of its occupation of Iraq. It is a failure to understand the strategic situation in Iraq and the realities of Iraqi politics. It is a failure at every level to prepare for a co-ordinated US effort at nation building."

Michael O'Hanlon, an analyst at another US think-tank, the Brookings Institution, was even more scathing. In an article for the Hoover Institution's Policy Review, he said: "One of the most brilliant invasion successes in modern military history was followed almost immediately by one of the most incompetently planned occupations."