Bush admits CIA prisons' existence

Bush has now finally admitted that the CIA operated secret prisons in foreign countries, outside the jurisdiction and oversight of American courts. But of course, he only did so after such prisons became public knowledge, both here in the States through the work of the Washington Post and overseas, where the knowledge caused quite a scandal. He also claims that he does not condone torture, but admits that he authorized--with the cooperation of the Department of Justice--"an alternative set of procedures" when suspects refused to talk. Let's not forget that Bush also insisted that "enemy combatant"--a term his administration invented out of thin air--was legal until the Supreme Court--bolstered by two of his own appointees--struck it down. I have never seen any lawmaker or politician so willing--eager, even--to ignore or break the laws of the land. Even Nixon (coincidentally? another Republican) never went so far.

To Bush's defenders--I know some of you think that he should be doing whatever he can to protect the American people. But what good is protection if he's stripping away everything he's supposed to be protecting? The GOP railroaded Clinton for having an extramarital affair, and yet they support clear violations of the Constitution on a daily basis? Someone please explain to me how that isn't hypocrisy in the worst way! They insult the New York Times every chance they get, but conveniently forget how Fox News' Geraldo Rivera gave away US troop movements on global TV during the Iraq invasion. So questioning policy is treason, but telling the enemy where our troops are isn't? Bush lost his rational credibility a long time ago, and with every new revelation about how his administration tries to sidestep the law, he's losing more and more moral credibility.

It's a shame.