It didn’t take a genius to know that, once it was revealed that detainee intel was used in the successful hunt for Osama bin Laden, the question of waterboarding would come up, or that both sides of the torture debate would eagerly await vindication of their viewpoint. Yet, from the sounds of the responses given by several Obama administration officials, you would think they anticipated never being asked this question.

NBC News is reporting that a senior intelligence official says that some critical information that ultimately led to the attack on Osama bin Laden‘s compound came from Khalid Sheikh Mohammed. Others, including former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, hinted at the possibility earlier today that some interrogation techniques at Gitmo may have contributed to the successful capture of bin Laden. Yet details are still pending regarding how exactly KSM provided such critical information, and whether the use of any interrogation measures are what prompted the release of such information.

Former President George W. Bush appears to be laying the ground work for a comeback of sorts. One suspects as he edges his way further into the media spotlight we may be hearing more remarks along the lines of what he told business audience in Grand Rapids, Michigan yesterday. Bush admitted that his administration had waterboarded Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, and that he’d do it again “to save lives.” There’s more.

Its the battle of Vice Presidents, past versus present, and Meet the Press vs. This Week. VP Joe Biden was a guest on MTP this morning, and fired the first salvos towards former VP Dick Cheney, who’s been a vocal critic of the Obama administration’s efforts towards suspected terrorists. Biden said “Dick Cheney’s a fine fellow. He’s entitled to his own opinion. He’s not entitled to rewrite history.” Update- excerpts of Cheney’s response on ABC’s This Week have been released.

Dick Cheney continues to be a thorn in Obama’s side that Obama can only ignore at his own peril. On last night’s Hannity, the former Vice President renewed his attacks on the current President over his decision to give 9/11 plotter Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, who Cheney called “one of the most evil men in history,” a public trial in New York City.

Last night, Chris Matthews, Keith Olbermann, and Rachel Maddow all took to the airwaves to criticize Republican lawmakers for their reluctance to see Khalid Sheikh Mohammed tried before a civilian court in New York. The trial seems poised to become the media spectacle we predicted it would this past weekend — but why? Do the left-right battle lines along which this seems to be falling even make sense?

Attorney General Eric Holder‘s decision to bring Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and four others detained at Guantanamo Bay to trial at a New York City courthouse was received with mixed reaction Friday, both on the political spectrum and in the media world. As a service to you, let’s review where this story has been and where its likely to go, at least in the world of the opinion press.