In true statesmanlike manner, last week, President Bush announced that Germany, France and Russia would be blocked from bidding on rebuilding contracts in Iraq. When a reporter suggested that such a declaration may be against international law, our President responded, "International law? I'd better call my lawyer!" That's amazing!

It is frightening to learn how lawless this administration really is. It scoffs at the law both nationally and internationally. For example, VP Dick Cheney has not produced the documents for which the GAO sued. (Eventually, the GAO gave up and withdrew the suit.) He paid no consequence for his absolute non-cooperation with an arm of the government charged with oversight. Beyond that, Cheney has maintained economic ties to Haliburton for which he has paid no penalty.

Now, flying directly in the face of the will of Congress, the Bush administration is pursuing assination and torture (by following the most tortured interpretations of the letter of the law by "outsourcing" those tasks to other countries or mercenaries) to accomplish its ends in Iraq--an illegal war in itself.