Lynch mobs are very ugly, whether in Baghdad or Mississippi, or Belfast. And the Baghdad killings were not exactly ignored by the world - the reprisals for that episode have been very terrible indeed, and a lot of the people who have died in them have undoubtedly been completely innocent.

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And are you suggesting, Norton, that in their time Catholic priests haven't been responsible for terrible acts of violence, even with the blessing of the Church? Torture, killing, persecution. I don't know any Catholics who would deny that, and who don't feel ashamed for it when we think about it.

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As I understand it the defence that is going to be presented by the Abu Ghraib defendants, if it comes to a trial, will be that they were "only obeying orders". Which is no defence in law, but it does point an accusing finger up the line to the people whose orders would be in question. "If it comes to a trial", because I think it very likely there will be some kind of plea bargain, in which they plead guilty to some lesser charge, so avoiding any public trial, and saving everyone from embarrassment.