I look at the photos of torture and humiliation and wonder: Coalition of the Willing? Willing to do what? This is what happens when you hand extreme power and ultimate authority to poorly educated (in the deep and broad, human sense), publicly moral, yet privately perturbed persons.

The infamous "Bring 'em on!" exhortation reveals the outrageously simplistic and arrogant attitude of misguided individuals who really cannot comprehend what a democratically functioning, collective decision-making society is all about. This is true from these soldiers right up to their non-elected Commander-in-Chief.

Yet we are being asked to further trust their judgment and discretion in upholding our laws, protecting people, running a war and teaching democracy--even as they invade our privacy, deny counsel to prisoners and advocate secret tribunals. How is that?

When a nation's leaders reject the rule of law and disdain respect for others' humanity as the US has done with the International Criminal Court, the Landmines Treaty, the Global-warming Treaty, UN negotiations, and more, they invite a return to barbarism and rule by force. Shocking and sad as this incident is, it is not surprising.

The smiling faces in these photos reveal to me a true debasement of our core values at home, as reflected by how we, as a people, seem incapable of effectively dealing with our own problems of poverty, healthcare, discrimination and child welfare. Too many moral pundits like to see victims of injustice both here and abroad as an enemy to be conquered and put in their places, rather than as other participants of life on this planet. With this kind of moral bankruptcy, we have little to teach, but much to learn.