] Attorney General John Ashcroft, whose subordinates
] have written confidential legal memorandums seemingly
] approving of torture, told a Senate committee today that
] President Bush had "made no order that would require or
] direct the violation" of either the international treaties
] or domestic laws prohibiting torture.
]
] The administration has responded to the memorandums by
] saying they were merely legal opinions offered at the
] beginning of formulating policies. Mr. Ashcroft said that
] "first of all, this administration opposes torture."
]
] He said the "kind of atrocities displayed in the
] photographs are being prosecuted by this administration."