Yet Another Yoo Memo ...

In the memo (part 1, part 2) released today, John Yoo writes:“If a government defendant were to harm an enemy combatant during an interrogation in a manner that might arguably violate a criminal prohibition, he would be doing so in order to prevent further attacks on the United States by the al Qaeda terrorist network.” The memo goes on to say, “In that case, we believe that he could argue that the executive branch’s constitutional authority to protect the nation from attack justified his actions.”

The 81-page memo and an earlier one issued to guide the CIA have since been withdrawn, but they show how sweeping the Justice Department viewed presidential power to be after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.

From last month, President Bush:

Because the danger remains, we need to ensure our intelligence officials have all the tools they need to stop the terrorists.

Unfortunately, Congress recently sent me an intelligence authorization bill that would diminish these vital tools. So today, I vetoed it.

Errol Morris's latest film opens April 25.