Mastermind of 9/11 finally transferred to US Defense Department custody

Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, whom the Bush Administration has called, the "mastermind of the September 11 attacks" along with a dozen or so other "high value detainees" are now in US Department of Defense (military) custody -- having been transferred from secret Gulags overseas to Guantanamo Bay.

President Bush has promised not to torture these prisoners in accordance with the Geneva Conventions, but asked Congress to pass legislation that will give his Administration immunity from recent district court and Supreme Court decisions that went against him. These new laws will be a "high priority" for the Republican-controlled Congress which is back in session this week.

Some Republicans are upset with this prioritization, but with cross-over Democrats (e.g., Joe Lieberman), the legislation should pass easily.

In my humble opinion, these are sad days for the Constitution and both American and International Law. But, whatever my personal opinions might be, Republicans remind me that we are at "War," and Germany (Adolf Hitler) had to make changes in their laws too prior to World War II in order to intimidate and then incarcerate Jews, Poles, homosexuals, gypsies and persons belonging to certain Christian denominations.