Torture battle is not over

Buried in this article is this significant gem. (AFP)

Representative Duncan Hunter, chairman of the House of Representatives Armed Services Committee, withdrew a threat to block the measure after being given a promise that a report on the impact of the new law would be made within 180 days.

And it ended,

However, some doubts have been expressed if it will really stop detainee abuse.

"Mr. Bush had barely announced his deal with Mr. McCain before Attorney General Alberto Gonzales made it crystal clear that the administration would define torture any way it liked," said a New York Times editorial.

"Restoring the rule of law over an administration that deliberately chose lawlessness in its treatment of detainees may be an arduous process," warned a Washington Post editorial.

As Greyhair pointed out in the comments, the battle isn't over.

ALSO, on torture, have we learned nothing from Al Libi? (NYTimes)

WASHINGTON, Dec. 16 - House and Senate negotiators agreed Friday to a measure that would enable the government to keep prisoners at Guantánamo Bay indefinitely on the basis of evidence obtained by coercive interrogations.