Three years after George W. Bush denounced torture as “an affront to human dignity,” the US Congress has paved the way for the legality of certain abusive interrogation methods, and have effectively killed Habeas Corpus.

The US president now has tyrannical control over (the broadly defined) “illegal enemy combatants.”

“[The bill passed today in Congress] could subject legal residents of the United States, as well as foreign citizens living in their own countries, to summary arrest and indefinite detention with no hope of appeal. The president could give the power to apply this label to anyone he wanted.”
[New York Times]

What’s more…

“Burried deep within this legislation is a provision that will pardon President Bush, and all the members of his administration, of any possible crimes connected to the torture and mistreatment of detainees dated all the way back to September 11th, 2001.”
[CNN Video]

A number of CIA, military, and FBI professionals spoke out against the bill to no avail.

On a lighter note, the US Senate wins fight to lower allowable amperage levels on detainees’ testicles.

Side note: These events triggered the 60th email to Prime Minister Steve.