Bush Signs Law Eviscerating Constitution

Critics and supporters agree that its enactment marks a major shift in the nation’s approach to terrorism and some legal principles.

The Military Commissions Act of 2006 clears the way for the CIA to resume aggressive interrogations in secret prisons and denies suspected terrorists the right to challenge their detentions in civilian courts. It also permits the use of evidence obtained through coercion and lets the president draw the line between acceptable interrogation techniques and impermissible torture.

While Bush hailed the legislation as a potent weapon against terrorists, critics called it a stain on America’s reputation as a champion of human rights and civil liberties.