I hear black hoods are in vogue...

Yep. We're now officially the United States of Abu Ghraib. Here are some excerpts from the "compromise" between Dubya and the Three Stooges:

(a) IN GENERAL.—No person may invoke the Geneva Conventions or any protocols thereto in any habeas or civil action or proceeding to which the United States, or a current or former officer, employee, member of the Armed Forces, or other agent of the United States, is a party as a source of rights, in any court of the United States or its States or territories.

Get out of jail free. Will Dubya make this retroactive, or will the poor grunts who have been saddled with the entirety of our national guilt be left to languish in prison?

(2) RETROACTIVE APPLICABILITY.—The amendments made by this section, except as specified in paragraph 2441(d)(2)(E) of title 10, United States Code, shall take effect as of November 26, 1997, as if enacted immediately after the amendments made by section 583 of Public Law 105-118 (as amended by section 4002 of Public Law 107-273).

Well that answers that question.

(3) INTERPRETATION BY THE PRESIDENT.—(A) As provided by the Constitution and by this section, the President has the authority for the United States to interpret the meaning and application of the Geneva Conventions and to promulgate higher standards and administrative regulations for violations of treaty obligations which are not grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions.

God save us. Dubya will be the highest authority in the land on the subject of torture, provided that said torture doesn't involve a "grave breach" of the Geneva Conventions.

(b) REVISION TO WAR CRIMES OFFENSE UNDER FEDERAL CRIMINAL CODE.—(1) Section 2441 of title 18, United States Code, is amended—

If you're guilty of war crimes under the law, why then just change the law!

But here's the best part: torture is prohibited except when it isn't.

(A) TORTURE.—The act of a person who commits, or conspires or attempts to commit, an act specifically intended to inflict severe physical or mental pain or suffering (other than pain or suffering incidental to lawful sanctions)

So you see, as long as your intentions are good, torture is OK.

(B) CRUEL OR INHUMAN TREATMENT.—The act of a person who commits, or conspires or attempts to commit, an act intended to inflict severe or serious physical or mental pain or suffering (other than pain or suffering incidental to lawful sanctions), including serious physical abuse, upon another within his custody or control.

Graham, Warner, and McCain simply "declared victory" and went home. What a bunch of sellout scumbags.

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