_{Photography by George Crux}

Via Digby, I see that the President is still an idiot:

“If I catch anyone who leaks in my government,” Bush tells Chrétien in March, 2002, “I would like to string them up by the thumbs — the same way we do with prisoners in Guantanamo.”

Which, of course, reminds me of this:

“You see the irony is what they need to do is get Syria, to get Hezbollah to stop doing this shit and it’s all over…”

America 2.0, where all foreign policy directives were first dreamt up over Rolling Rock and beer nuts.

_{Photograph By: Eugenio Garcia}

A couple days ago, I wrote a post about conservative journalist Richard Miniter’s bizarre trip to Gitmo, and his strange assertion that Gitmo detainees were being treated too well by their American captors:

“Food is strictly halal and averages 4,200 calories per day. (The guards eat the same chow as the detainees, unless they venture to one of the on-base fast-food joints.) Most prisoners have gained weight.”

The entire article is peppered with what appear to be government-provided talking points, which should have set off alarm bells. But it wasn’t until I read this post by Glenn Greenwald, and this update from commenter P. O’Neil, that the full story became clear. Apparently, Mark Steyn was there too:

And I must say, these are the fattest Afghans I’ve ever seen, because they’re on this kind of 4,700 calorie a day diet, which I don’t quite understand.

And so was Rich Lowry:

Detainees are offered 4,200 calories a day. U.S. combat troops get 3,800. The average detainee has gained 18 pounds.

Now, this PR tour seems to be aimed entirely at a right-wing, pro-torture audience. So why does the Bush Administration want to push the line that Gitmo is just like summer camp?

I’ve had it with Andrew Sullivan. After months of lamenting, condemning, describing, and documenting the torture being carried out by this administration, he plays defense for his favorite Republican savior, Sen. John McCain (R-Wherever the Wind Blows).

McCain pocketed the torture issue for self-serving reasons, and when it came time to put his cards on the table, he folded. He could have left well alone, but let’s not forget what he said when Sen. Dick Durbin brought up the subject on the senate floor:

“I think that Senator Durbin owes the Senate an apology — I don’t know if censure would be in order — but an apology, because it does a great disservice to men and women who suffered in the gulag and in Pol Pot’s ‘killing fields.’ “

If you, like me, are drawn to the car wreck that is Andrew Sullivan, do yourself a favor and look away. I know I will.