BUSH OK'D TORTURE

When asked whether he signed off on Ashcroft's torturegate memo today, Bush says he told prison overseers to follow U.S. laws. When asked if he had ever seen the memo, Bush said he couldn't remember.

A reporter insisted, asking "This is a moral question: Is torture ever justified?'

Bush responded:

'I'm going to say it one more time. Maybe I can be more clear. The instructions went out to our people to adhere to law. That ought to comfort you. We're a nation of law. We adhere to laws. We have laws on the books. You might look at these laws. And that might provide comfort for you. And those were the instructions from me to the government.' "

In other words, he was told that what he agreeeing to was within the law, he took his Attorney General's advice and he is sticking to the belief that it is the law, because the alternative is too horrible to contemplate.

As for the morality of torture, Bush avoided the question, which is surely not a difficult one to answer. Even for a dumb-ass like him.