Recent history shows that it generated sympathy for the detainees. Just look at the posts here and the polls taken around the world at the time. The Arab world, as well as the rest of the world, was so angry over the mistreatment of detainees that it destroyed the world view of this country. It overshadowed everything else. It is why Obama finally came to his senses over releasing more photos.
Oh. please....
After we invaded Iraq in 2003, a much higher percentage of Arab-Americans changed their minds and felt that the 9/11 attacks were justified - get the picture?