Sept. 23, 2006 - 20:12 MDT

�TWAS EVER THUS

At least it might be. Another article in this morning�s Rocky Mountain News by Anne Plummer Flaherty of the Associated Press. Quoted in full :

INTERROGATION GIVES BUSH WIDE LEEWAY

WASHINGTON � �A Republican deal on terrorism trials and interrogatins would give President Bush wide latitude to interpret standards for prisoner treatment, even though it doesn�t include a provision he wanted on the Geneva Conventions.�

�The resulting legislation, if passed next week by Congress as Republicans hope, would revive the CIA�s terrorist interrogation program because it would reduce the risk that agency workers could be found guilty of war crimes.�

�The deal also could open the door to aggressive techniques that test the bounds of international standards of prisoner treatment.�

�The key to this deal will be whether Congress exercises real oversight over the CIA interrogation program,� said California Rep. Jane Harman, who as the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee has been briefed on how the CIA handles terrorism suspects.�

�The GOP bill outlines specific war crimes such as torture and rape, but it also says the president can �interpret the meaning and application� of the Geneva Convention standards to less severe interrogation procedures.� Such a provision is intended to allow him to authorize methods that otherwise might be seen as illegal by international courts.�

Bush�s national security adviser, Stephen Hadley, said the president plans to use this authority to CLARIFY Geneva Convention obligations by executive order, which must be published in the Federal Register.�

�Harman said Friday she wants the administration to give Congress a list of techniques approved by the president and legal justification for the methods.�

��If Congress DOES NOT demand this information, WE WILL BE GIVING THE PRESIDENT ANOTHER BLANK CHECK TO VIOLATE THE LAW,� she said.�

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So, can we expect the usual smoke and mirrors, dog and pony show where legislation is passed and ignored, with an out for the biggies ?

Seems as if Mr. Bush is after the legislation to let him interpret the law, and word of God perhaps, as well.

With him and his activities it seems to be the usual. �TWAS EVER THUS . . . . . . . . . . . .

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