Torture

The Washington Post posted copies of the memos (Aug.1, 2002, and March 6, 2003) that Ashcroft refused to provide to a constitutionally appointed oversight committee with just the authority to demand he do so.

So the WaPo made them public....good for them. Interesting piece of reportage in a nutshell on the Post's summary page:

President Bush spoke on the issue of torture Thursday, saying he expected U.S. authorities to abide by the law. He declined to say whether he believes U.S. law prohibits torture.

Well, it's pretty obvious that Justice and White House Legal Counsel have been bending over backwards to find some way to parse the definition of torture, just so, twist the "word of law" just enough, to make it, technically, not illegal. And let's not forget, should it be deemed illegal, the argument is that the power to set aside laws is "inherent in the president." In other words, if Bush says it's legal, it is.

All hail Ceaser.