(no subject)

A few weeks ago I posted this:

Today the Times begins a two-part series on the process of creating a "new system of justice" for terrorists: exclusive and secretive, driven by a false sense of urgency, and controlled by Dick Cheney. Here's how things were: At one point John Ashcroft argued that the proposed policies were too harsh.

Yes, just last month I was alarmed by the idea that there were harsher, less fair people in the administration than our Attorney General. Now one of them is his replacement. Here's the quote:

Some Justice Department officials also urged changes in the commission rules, current and former officials said. While Attorney General Ashcroft staunchly defended the policy in public, in a private meeting with Pentagon officials, he said some of the proposed commission rules would be seen as "draconian," two officials said.

On nearly every issue, interviews and documents show, the harder line was staked out by White House lawyers: Mr. Addington, Mr. Gonzales and Mr. Flanigan. They opposed allowing civilian lawyers to assist the tribunal defendants, as military courts-martial permit, or allowing civilians to serve on the appellate panel that would oversee the commissions. They also opposed granting defendants a presumption of innocence.

Oh well, at least things can't get any worse, right? Right?