At least Reagan had good reason for not being able to remember stuff.

"Don't ask, don't tell" may have something to be said for in regard to gay soldiers - but it's one hell of a way to run a country.

Doug thinks that Runsfeld should be congratulated because back in January they responded to evidence about torture in Abu Ghraib.

It's now come out that the International Red Cross rang the alarm bell about it a whole year ago. Red Cross describes systematic abuse in Iraq

Here's what its director of oprations hasa to say: It is clear that our findings do not allow to conclude that what we were dealing with here in the case of Abu Ghraib was isolated acts of individual members of the coalition forces. What we have described amounts to a pattern, a broad system."

I watched Runsfeld on the news, saying he accepted responsibility for what happened, and adsmitting that it happened on gis watch. And then saying he was not offering his resignation. That's the very least any honourable person in his position should do. If Bush wants to refuse to accept it, and asks him to stay, that's his right; and if Runsfeld withdrew his resignation in the face of it, that's the kind of thing politicians do.

But not even offering to resign - that really is a very extraordinary way to carry on.