The unspeakable acts of torture that Saddam Hussein's regime practiced on its own people were well-documented before the war. So not many people expected Saddam's minions to treat captured American soldiers much better, and certainly not as humanely as international protocol requires.

But today, many Americans can rejoice. Seven U.S. soldiers missing since late March were not only found alive, most appear to be in relatively good health after nearly three weeks in captivity.

Five of them were part of a supply convoy from the Army's 507th Maintenance Company that became lost on March 23 and wandered into Nasiriyah, then were ambushed by Iraqis. Two others were crew members of a downed Apache helicopter. Nine other Americans were killed that day. On Sunday prisoners were found by Marines north of Baghdad in the town of Samarra, after a group of Iraqis abandoned by their commanding officers told American soldiers of their whereabouts. Earlier, POW Jessica Lynch, who was a part of the 507th, was rescued from an Iraqi hospital. She suffered broken legs, a broken arm and a spinal injury.

Sunday's rescue is one of the most uplifting moments of this war, which began on March 19 with an attempt to kill Saddam Hussein with F-117 bombs.

In the days since, Saddam's regime has fallen, thousands of Iraqi soldiers have been captured or have surrendered and the coalition of allied forces seems poised for victory.

In spite of the war's success, the plight of the missing troops was always a concern, especially after their images - which showed evidence of wounds - were shown on Iraqi TV, in violation of the Geneva Convention.

The captives told the Washington Post that they were beaten in the beginning, but as it became clear the regime would topple, they were treated better. In fact, the Americans reported that Iraqi police holding them when they were rescued pooled their own money to buy them the food and medicine.

In war we are conditioned to expect the worst from POW situations. Here's to a happier ending.