Bush Claimed Right to Waive Torture Laws

ABC News put the proper headline on this AP story: "Bush Claimed Right to Waive Torture Laws."

Bush's previously secret Feb. 7, 2002, order also agrees with Justice and Pentagon lawyers that a president can ignore U.S. law and treaties.

"I accept the legal conclusion of the Attorney General and the Department of Justice that I have the authority to suspend Geneva (conventions) as between the United States and Afghanistan," Bush wrote. "I reserve the right to exercise this authority in this or future conflicts."

CNN's headline is "Bush: 'I have never ordered torture'," and while the article mentions the 2/7/02 order, it doesn't mention Bush's claim of authority to suspend the Geneva conventions. The NY Times continues to serve as one of Bush's chief propaganda tools. Their headline is White House Says Prisoner Policy Set Humane Tone, and the article doesn't mention the 2/7/02 order at all.

Here's a quick reminder of what it means when a president decides on his own that he can violate treaties that the nation is has entered into:

Article 6, US Constitution: This Constitution, and the laws of the United States which shall be made in pursuance thereof; and all treaties made, or which shall be made, under the authority of the United States, shall be the supreme law of the land; and the judges in every state shall be bound thereby, anything in the Constitution or laws of any State to the contrary notwithstanding.

The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the members of the several state legislatures, and all executive and judicial officers, both of the United States and of the several states, shall be bound by oath or affirmation, to support this Constitution...

Article 2, Section 4, US Constitution: The President, Vice President and all civil officers of the United States, shall be removed from office on impeachment for, and conviction of, treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors.

Bush broke the "supreme law of the land," something which at the very least constitutes a "high crime," and is probably treason.