President Bush highlights the danger of lawless terrorists, intent on harming America. These terrorists live in communities with laws but choose to ignore them. President Bush behaves similarly in his effort to identify the bad actors and achieve “complete victory”.
A number of his methods have been found illegal. A Michigan federal court ruled his domestic spying program violated privacy and free speech rights, the separation of powers, and the law passed to govern domestic surveillance. The Supreme Court ruled his plans to try detainees via military tribunals violated U.S. and international law.
While he scrambles to defend the CIA secret prisons, what will our allies do? Will they uphold any diplomatic or treaty agreements that bar such activity? Will they challenge the Bush administration in their country’s legal system?
What will Congress do given the President’s latest revelation? Will they cover for him by passing a statute that is contrary to U.N. standards and treaty obligations? The issue isn’t holding and interrogating people, that’s a given. The question is how?
"I cannot describe the specific methods used - I think you understand why. If I did, it would help the terrorists learn how to resist questioning and to keep information from us that we need to prevent new attacks on our country. But I can say the procedures were tough, and they were safe and lawful and necessary."
At what point do people quit believing a pathological liar?
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