George W Bush, The Law and basic morality

A short one today - if for no other reason than my conviction that some subjects are of such importance and yet simplicity that too much debate can dilute the starkness of the truth.

Today we hear in his new book "Decision Points" - that George W Bush authorised the torture known as waterboarding, as he was advised it was "legal".

"Legal" means within the laws defined by the state - so hanging drawing and quartering could be regarded as such if the law were to be changed. Bush could have made anything "legal" by suitable legislation.

No mention of morality whatever - possibly because he doesn't even know the meaning of the word (together with many other words I suspect he doesn't know the meaning of).

This sort of revelation can only drive the U.S. even further into the pariah state slot it seems to have chosen for itself. Perhaps Cameron will find it difficult to discuss Human Rights in Beijing without first apologising for the UK's slavish involvement in this evil.

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