Well, DM, if the process includes final approval by the president, there's no problem.

And if he's permitted to exert his influence, then that's no problem either.

But I still say that even if he overstepped his bounds in this particular case, while there might be some objection from the far, far left, and maybe some grumbling, there would no where near the type of reaction that you're suggesting.

Same thing if tomorrow it was announced that we tracked down bin Laden in a cave somewhere and some marine put one between his eyes.

There'd be grumbling, and disappointment that he wasn't caught alive and given the benefit of a trial, but in the end, is anyone gonna really care all that much?

Now, if it comes out that he was captured alive, and some marine killed him acting on orders from his commander, who was acting on orders from his commander, who was acting on orders from Bush, don't you think that would be worthy of a scandal.

You can answer "No" to that one, BTW.