IS THERE HOPE THAT BUSH, CHENEY AND THEIR CRIMINAL CRONIES WILL ONE DAY COME BEFORE THE BAR OF JUSTICE? MAYBE

A week or so ago we noted Andrew Sullivan's prediction that Bush would one day face a war crimes tribunal. If anyone I know were in charge, he certainly would. But, as we stated then, political realities in the U.S. make it just plain wishful thinking. Still... last night ABC News ran with a story that certainly points precisely towards a trip to the Hague. Short version: the Regime's top operatives-- Cheney, Condoleeza Rice, Rumsfeld, Tenet, John Ashcroft, Colin Powell-- sat around the White House discussing and approving clearly illegal torture specifics.

In interview with ABC's Charles Gibson last year, Tenet said: "It was authorized. It was legal, according to the Attorney General of the United States."

But this is the first time sources have disclosed that a handful of the most senior advisers in the White House explicitly approved the details of the program. According to multiple sources, it was members of the Principals Committee that not only discussed specific plans and specific interrogation methods, but approved them.

...According to a top official, Ashcroft asked aloud after one meeting: "Why are we talking about this in the White House? History will not judge this kindly."

I doubt they care about speculation that "history" may judge them badly. Like the pope, history has no regiments. Some, on the other hand, think a Justice Department, cleared of the political hacks who have dragged it into overall complicity, will be duty-bound to look into the patterns of criminality and follow the leads wherever they go. Others, on the far right, point out that the Bush Regime have erected legalistic barriers to protect itself. I'm an optimist by nature... but only to a point. And I'm afraid History's judgment is the most satisfaction anyone will ever get out of this, the most disgraceful departure from constitutional rule and honor in the life of our nation.