On the positive side, there are bills in the new House and Senate to restore the rule of law - "No reason why we can’t fight the War on Terror and live up to our obligations under US law and the Geneva Conventions"
Both the “Restoring the Constitution Act” and the “Habeas Corpus Restoration Act” will bring credibility to the process of detaining terrorist suspects by placing it within a legal framework. This includes: restoring habeas corpus, narrowing the definition of “unlawful enemy combatant” as defined in the Military Commissions Act, prohibiting evidence obtained under coercion, and affirming the Geneva Conventions....
"We had an opportunity to show the world that the United States could fight those who would do us harm and protect our core values. That we could be both strong and just."
http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press...n/March_8.html