The “manipulation of official appointments” was “one of the American revolutionary generation’s greatest grievances against executive power,” Justice Harry A. Blackmun explained in Freytag.

Good thing we haven't had that problem with this administration.

@11 Congress -- the Democratic Congress could outlaw any version of torture it wanted to. They haven't. Why?

Actually, Congress did pass a law requiring the government to adhere to the US Military Code regarding torture (which is essentially the same as banning it). It passed 51-45 in the Senate.

Bush vetoed the bill.

The Democratic Congress does not have enough of a majority in the Senate to override a veto. The GOP is far more accountable here since they vote in lockstep and apparently do not have principles beyond GOP uber alles.

It should be further noted that McCain, the guy running on his tortured soldier history, voted against the bill, voted for torture.

To followup on Eevee@11's comment

The navy experimented with a trapeze arrangement (pioneered aboard U. S. S. Los Angeles) that caught aircraft in mid-flight, and hauled them into the airships cavernous interior. Navy N2Y and F9C bi-planes, equipped with hooks, were flown into position, snagging the arm suspended below the ships belly. Once in position, the biplane was lifted through an opening in the ships hull.

http://www.military.com/forums/0,15240,163549,00.html