Caught this at the Center for American Progress:
MEMO EXEMPTS PRESIDENT FROM LAW: According to the WSJ, at the "core" of the memo is the exceptional argument that "the president, despite domestic and international laws constraining the use of torture, has the authority as commander in chief to approve almost any physical or psychological actions during interrogation, up to and including torture." But the memo goes even further: not only can the president approve interrogation techniques as he sees fit, but "To protect subordinates should they be charged with torture, the memo advised that Mr. Bush issue a 'presidential directive or other writing' that could serve as evidence, since authority to set aside the laws is 'inherent in the president.'" Reportedly over the objections of some military lawyers, one lawyer who helped prepare the report said the authors "sought to assign to the president virtually unlimited authority on matters of torture -- to assert 'presidential power at its absolute apex.'"
…which reminds me of this:
One of those hierarchically significant people, I'll call him George (because that was his name) explained to me the purpose of rules. Prior to the conversation I thought rules were intended as a guide, or to insure a rational environment. This gentleman, being a maker of rules as opposed to a follower of them, had a different perspective.George explained to me that no one looks at what you do as long as nothing goes wrong, and even if they do check they still have no way of knowing what truly happened. All they know is what you recorded and if that's enough to explain the situation at hand, you don't have to say another word. No one can question your judgment…as long as you can document that you followed the rules…no matter how screwed the result. More, a set of rules or laws broad enough to govern a social situation as complex as a workplace will have a sufficient number of rules to insure you can find one to support any personnel decision you'd care to make. In other words, George said, rules are used, not necessarily followed, by people in decision making positions. This accorded with my observation that the main outward sign of power is that a person can decide a situation falls outside the rules and act independently of them.
George explained it very concisely: "Fuck the rules. They're only there to cover our asses. If I want to do it, I will."
That my George is a George and Dubya is a George is proven coincidental by the existance of this George.
Posted by P6 at June 8, 2004 11:42 AM
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Comments
Georges and rules, don't get me started. ;-)
Posted by George at June 10, 2004 02:27 AMThat's funny.