Ashcroft: Don't Make Me Get Medieval On You

Attorney General John D. Ashcroft told Congress yesterday that he would not release a 2002 policy memo on the degree of pain and suffering legally permitted during enemy interrogations, but said he knows of no presidential order that would allow al Qaeda suspects to be tortured by U.S. personnel. [Washington Post Story.]

Instead, he responded to specific types of torture suggested by the press:

Stone Phillips: What about sandpaper and lemon juice?
Ashcroft: Definitely OK.
Katy Couric: Pliers and a blowtorch?
Ashcroft: Maybe, depending on the importance of the intelligence we could get.
Sam Donaldson: How about twelve hours of Jessica Simpson singing?
Ashcroft: Completely crosses the line. What are you, Sam, some kind of monster?