[Population: One] <A HREF="http://popone.innocence.com/ar

[bryant]

The working-group report elaborated the Bush administration's view that the president has virtually unlimited power to wage war as he sees fit, and neither Congress, the courts nor international law can interfere. It concluded that neither the president nor anyone following his instructions was bound by the federal Torture Statute, which makes it a crime for Americans working for the government overseas to commit or attempt torture, defined as any act intended to "inflict severe physical or mental pain or suffering." Punishment is up to 20 years imprisonment, or a death sentence or life imprisonment if the victim dies.

This from the Wall Street Journal, on Monday. The full text of the article has been reproduced elsewhere.

It really makes those articles about our reluctance to employ torture seem naive, doesn't it? "We don't sanction torture, but there are psychological and other ways that we can get most of what we need." Except right around the time Rockefeller said that, Bush's administration decided that it was OK to sanction torture. Egg on his face.

Phil Carter discusses the difference between advice on how to stay within the law and advice on how to avoid prosecution for breaking the law. Bitter fruit.

Comments

[multiplexer.livejournal.com]

So... the Bush Administration has declared that we have a Mad King George and not a President?

[that-cad.livejournal.com]

Woohoo for insane decadent monarchy!

[ogier30.livejournal.com]

The Divine Right of Kings. Remember, George was chosen by God to lead the country, and as the Chosen of God, his word is law.

And people laugh at me when I say the US is a theocracy at the moment.

[marith.livejournal.com]

So, how likely do you think an 'October Surprise' is?

[bryant]

Chances are slim. To date they haven't stage-managed anything like that, so I don't assume a sudden change in tactics or level of vileness or anything. It's just not in the neocon makeup.

Important to remember that neocons are idealists and moralists. Just cause they don't share my or your ideals doesn't mean they don't have a moral code.

[rmd.livejournal.com]

Important to remember that neocons are idealists and moralists. Just cause they don't share my or your ideals doesn't mean they don't have a moral code.

actually, it's those ideals and that moral code that bugs me about them -- they're not just making decisions that they think are pragmatic or reasonable, they've got the hubris of thinking that they've got god and the power of all that is right on their side and to go against them is not to just go against them, but to go against right and god.

it pushes that extreme 'us or them' attitude that brooks no dissent.