When Cheney became Vice-President this idea of a new world order took a more decisive direction with the implementation of the Bush Doctrine which in effect said we could attack any country deemed an enemy or interfered with our general welfare. The UN was pushed into a “advisory” position and only had to recognize our target as a unsuitable for the “family of nations”.

The problem with this interpretation of a new world order is the centralization of power or the perceived power in the West Wing. While Bush Jr. proved the fallacy of the theory the power remains and will never be surrendered. Presidents now believe that they have control not only over the actions of the country but the world. That the CIA can pick up anyone they please, anywhere in the world, like Chicago thugs without any fears of repercussion and take them to extralegal backrooms and work them over used to be the stuff of spy novels and the ravings of conspiracy nuts.

Not any longer.

It is one thing to compare our economy to a Banana Republic but for our government to behave like some nineteenth century junta is beyond the comprehension of anyone taught American civics. Kidnapping is a crime in every democracy on the planet and for our President to casually announce to the world his criminal intentions based on some political theory should be an impeachable offense. This idea puts the President not only in violation of US law but in violation of countless treaties.

I voted for change, for sanity, for a return to dignity and law, not for more of the same.

So, we’ll be sending kidnapped “prisoners” to where? Sweden? Switzerland? Sure we will. This isn’t even a positive step. In fact, it’s no step at all. Every previous administration said we wouldn’t be sending prisoners to countries known to torture – and it was always a lie.

The whole rendition program should be canceled unless we allow for the same to be done to our citizens. Let Spain send some hit squads into our country to kidnap John Yoo! Let France do the same so they can get their hands on Henry Kissinger! The wrong of rendition won’t be cured by such things – but it would certainly make it fair.