Geneva Genuflection

The military's new rule giving all prisoners in its custody a minimal level of protection set by the Genevas is a good development--albeit one forced by the Supreme Court.

But I'm not even sure the  military still had interrogation policies that violated the Genevas. The CIA certainly does  and what reporters should now being asking is what changes--if any-- are afoot at the Agency.

UPDATE: Former DOJ lawyer Marty Lederman describes the loopholes in the latest directive.

UPDATE2: Andrew Sullivan on one of the guys who approved "torture-lite" and is in line for a life-time appointment, courtesy of our president. Twenty former generals, admirals, and other top officers have authored a letter objecting to his nomination:

What compels us to take this unusual step is our profound concern about the role Mr. Haynes played in establishing – over the objections of uniformed military lawyers – detention and interrogation policies in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Guantanamo which led not only to the abuse of detainees in U.S. custody but to a dangerous abrogation of the military’s long-standing commitment to the rule of law.

By the way: I just finished an 11,000-word story (on, as it happens, torture coverage). I should be back into the blogging swing of things right quick.