The infamous John Yoo torture memo were finally released yesterday, five years after it was originally penned. The 81-page memo, which was declassified and released publicly yesterday, argues that poking, slapping or shoving detainees would not give rise to criminal liability. The document also appears to defend the use of mind-altering drugs that do not produce "an extreme effect" calculated to "cause a profound disruption of the senses or personality." Important stuff, but a topic others know much better than I do. For some more insight, check out Balkinization, Kevin Drum, and Emily Bazelon at Slate.
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Adam Doster, a contributing editor at In These Times, is a Chicago-based freelance writer and former reporter-blogger for Progress Illinois.
