In a very contentious press conference today, President Bush defended his attempt to clarify the vague language in Common Article 3 of the Geneva Conventions: Bush wants ‘clarity’ on interrogations.

This debate, once again, is being driven more by politics than by any real concern for the defense of America. The language is vague. Islamic terrorist groups wage a type of warfare vastly different from the wars of the 20th century, when the Conventions were written. They have identified the weaknesses in our relatively civilized conduct of battle, and are ruthlessly exploiting those weaknesses. It makes no sense to cling to outmoded language about “outrages upon personal dignity” when faced with an enemy that videotapes and broadcasts beheadings.

It’s a curious hypocrisy that many of those who seem to regard the Geneva Conventions as immutable, written in stone, are the same ones who constantly seek to redefine and reinterpret the US Constitution.