Civil Rights

It

President Bush told ABC News he approved specific techniques to be used by CIA interrogators against high value al Qaeda targets. Bush was responding to reports that senior administration officials met, discussed and approved of "enhanced interrogation techniques."

Bush told ABC Friday:

"Well we started to connect the dots in order to protect the American people."

"And yes, I'm aware our national security team met on the issue. And I approved."

Bush called the initial report this week that top administration officials had signed off on the "enhanced interrogation" not so "startling."

Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) urged San Francisco protesters that will demonstrate against Chinese government actions when the Olympic torch comes to the city to do so "peacefully and respectfully."

"Many will exercise this right by demonstrating against the Olympic torch," Pelosi said in a statement. "I urge all those who protest to do so peacefully and respectfully. I commend those who speak out for their commitment to shining a light on the causes that challenge the conscience of the world."

Pelosi acknowledged the importance of the protests, noting "freedom-loving people around the world are vigorously protesting because of the crackdown in Tibet and Beijing

The Hill's Managing Editor Bob Cusack gives a preview of the week ahead in Congress.