Superpower Update

American spy agencies report:

The war in Iraq has become a primary recruitment vehicle for violent Islamic extremists, motivating a new generation of potential terrorists around the world whose numbers may be increasing faster than the United States and its allies can reduce the threat, U.S. intelligence analysts have concluded.

So what took them so long to figure that out?

For up-to-date examinitation of the ongoing efforts of the Bush Administration to legalize torture and gut the Geneva Conventions, Andrew Sullivan is must-read. And Marty Lederman provides clear analysis on developments from a legal perspective. There was talk late last week of a comprimise between the White House and Congress on this issue. That "comprimise" is beginning to sound more and more like a cave-in. Bush is desperate to get congress to pass a bill before the November elections. That's when congressional power could shift to the Democrats. If Bush hasn't got Congress to change the law by November, it's more likely that he and other high officials will -- sooner or later -- be brought before the law to face justice. Here's the bottom line: Under Bush torture became US policy, it's just that the White House refuses to use the word.