BBC is reporting a UK Defence Department probe into the Iraq torture allegations.
UK troops in Iraqi torture probe NOTE: This link features the cover of the Daily Mirror with a full page graphic photo.
The Ministry of Defence has launched an investigation into allegations that British soldiers have been pictured torturing an Iraqi prisoner.
The photographs, obtained by the Daily Mirror newspaper, show a suspected thief being beaten and urinated on.
Well at least somebody is investigating this. I haven't heard a peep from Washington - actually I have, Bush saying that those responsible would be "taken care of," whatever that means. What I wonder is did Bush mean those responsible for the torture, or those responsible for leaking the photos would be taken care of?
BBC reports the story published by the Mirror:
The Mirror says the latest pictures were handed over by British soldiers who claimed a rogue element in the British army was responsible for abusing prisoners and civilians.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, the soldiers told the paper no charges were brought against the unnamed captive.
They allege during his 8-hour ordeal he was threatened with execution, his jaw broken and his teeth smashed.
'Losing war'
After being beaten and urinated on, he was driven away and dumped from the back of a moving vehicle, the soldiers claimed.
They added they did not know whether he survived.
The reason for making the photos public was, they said, to show why the US-UK coalition was encountering such fierce resistance in Iraq.
One told the paper: "We are not helping ourselves out there. We are never going to get them on our side. We are fighting a losing war."
So this is a different incident than the ones reported by CBS, and different photographs, it would appear.
In a press conference, Sir Michael Jackson, Chief of the General Staff, said: "If proven, not only is such appalling conduct clearly unlawful but also contravenes the British Army's high standards of conduct.
"The allegations are already under investigation.
"Again, if proven, the perpetrators are not fit to wear the Queen's uniform and they have besmirched the Army's good name and conduct."
But he said the Army should not be judged on the behaviour of a few soldiers who had let down the good work of tens of thousands of others.
Fine for coalition members not to make judgements of the military because of some rotten apples, but I'm sure this sort of statement will fly like a lead balloon in Iraq and in the Arab world in general.
If heads don't roll on this one - and heads not only of those directly involved, but of commanding officers as well - then we have to question the judgement of any and all actions taken by the military command.