'Rule of Law' Defeats George W. Bush

In what is at least a partial victory for the rule of law and decency against George W. Bush, the Supreme Court ruled today that the Bush administration cannot deny terrorism suspects access to the legal system by labling them "enemy combatants" (ABCNews).

This is good news for the detainees in Cuba, as I don't doubt that many are innocent, but also good news for U.S. citizens, whom the Bush administration wants to trample:

The administration also must take extra precautions when it apprehends U.S. citizens and accuses them of being combatants. Those citizens are entitled to some rights like traditional criminal suspects.

So far, I have been too lazy to read the ruling in its entirety, but I would hope that this would mean that it is no longer legal for the government to secretly kidnap U.S. citizens without charging them or informing anyone of their whereabouts.

Which, you know, sounds like a step forward to me.