Justice Dept. clears Yoo, Bybee

Justice's original report on John Yoo and Jay Bybee's support for torture has been "softened," says Newsweek. Former Attorney General Michael Mukasey sent the original report back for ... further work.

But, the Obama DOJ isn't distancing itself from the softening of the findings. (Not that that surprises me.)

Well, boo-hoo for Jay Bybee

One of Bush’s torture-condoning legal memo authors supposedly regrets it now.

Why should we believe this is anything more than legacy-polishing by an active federal judge?

For that matter, why should we believe this is even true?

Bybee tells this to old Office of Legal Counsel colleagues, in a private setting.

Then, carrying anonymity in journalism to ridiculously new levels, the Post lets two of Bybee’s friends tell us on background that he regrets the legal counsel he issued on torture.

“I’ve heard him express regret at the contents of the memo,” said a fellow legal scholar and longtime friend, who spoke on the condition of anonymity while offering remarks that might appear as “piling on.” “I’ve heard him express regret that the memo was misused. I’ve heard him express regret at the lack of context — of the enormous pressure and the enormous time pressure that he was under. And anyone would have regrets simply because of the notoriety.”

Sounds like the anonymous friend is tweaking the “ticking time bomb” excuse: “But Bybee had to render a decision, or Khalid Sheik Muhammad would blow us all up!”

Puhleeze.

Jay Bybee, if you really wanted to show your regret, you’d resign from the bench.