[bush and cia] historic breakthrough

This one is 30 minutes old [0700 London time]. Well, it’s finally happened and the implications, through FEMA, are enormous for the U.S.A. itself and obliquely, for Britain. The Washington Post reports that the breakthrough, after months of negotiations, means that next week, lawmakers could give Mr. Bush what he called his "top legislative priority" ahead of the November elections. Mr. Bush, on the road in Florida, praised the agreement for preserving "the most potent tool we have in protecting America and foiling terrorist attacks, and that is the CIA program to question the world's most dangerous terrorists and to get their secrets." Four chilling words. America - welcome to the world of the gurney and the instruments, should you ever fall foul of authority.