'We Do Not Torture'

Except, of course, for when we do.

As if the President's signing statement wasn't enough of a slap in the face to Congress' wishes to stop torture (Bush/Cheney answer to no one) and to the reputation of our nation, the White House is now asserting that the law doesn't apply to prisoners at Guantanamo Bay...

Washington Post: U.S. Cites Exception in Torture Ban-
McCain Law May Not Apply to Cuba Prison

Bush administration lawyers, fighting a claim of torture by a Guantanamo Bay detainee, yesterday argued that the new law that bans cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment of detainees in U.S. custody does not apply to people held at the military prison.

In federal court yesterday and in legal filings, Justice Department lawyers contended that a detainee at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, cannot use legislation drafted by Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) to challenge treatment that the detainee's lawyers described as "systematic torture."...

I'm sure that in subsequent months, we'll learn that the new law also doesn't apply to our prisons in Iraq, our prisons in Afghanistan, our secret prisons across Europe (shhh, they're a secret!), or anywhere else who may be holding the type of prisoners the law specifically referred to.

As you know, the President (as Supreme Monarch of these United States) has the inherent authority not only to break any laws he finds inconvenient, but also to choose when and where other laws apply. That's how democracy works.

To see the President's legacy in action, click- HERE.

The clincher to the article-

A spokeswoman for McCain's office did not respond to questions yesterday.

He was really serious about stopping torture, ya know.

[PS- The military also now states evidence obtained through torture is admissible.]