The speech Bush delivered on Wednesday was notable for several things. First he gave more detail than he normally gives. He cited more facts (true or not, no reason to start believing anything he says now) than he has ever used in a speech. Second he remained particularly defiant.

Bush called on Congress to create courts that would try prisoners on terrorism charges. He is now calling for the creation of courts that Congress offered to create five years ago. Why, because the Supreme Court told him he had to.

In his speech, Bush coined several new euphemisms. Just as these prisoners of war are "enemy combatants," something that does not exist in any treaty or legal document, he called "alternate procedures." Alternate procedures is the new Bush euphemism for torture.

Also remarkable was he admission that the CIA operates facilities in other countries where it holds and tortures prisoners. What wasn't made clear was whether those countries are complicit are are on the verge of throwing the US out.

Through his speech, Bush claimed that the information prevented a number of attacks over the past five years. Why would he be revealing this information now? It's an election year and terrorism is where Bush polls best.

The tone of the speech was particularly curious. While claiming victories in his war on terror, he remained defiant. Congress has repeatedly offered to create the courts needed to try the concentration camp prisoners in Guantanamo, but Bush threatened. He says he'll start the trials as soon as Congress acts, while he was the one blocking Congress from acting for five years.