[skeeter]

Frankly, this defense implies that Ashcroft's statement is a cowardly means of giving a directive without taking responsibility for any subsequent results, a la Henry II's "Will no friend rid me of this troublesome priest?"

Thats your interpretation, an unsupportable one. Apparently the only way Ashcroft can satisfy your standards is to not make public statements.

As far as I'm concerned (for example) Ashcroft was more likely talking about the ACLU types who made such a fuss about the conditions in Camp Xray that some moslim fanatics felt compelled to kidnap a WSJ reporter hostage to offer in exchange for better conditions for the prisoners.

[francisandbeans]

His words mean something. Like I said if he said that some folks are "over-reacting" or "thin skinned" then fine. He called us terrorist aiders. That's ridiculous.

[AUgrad]

As far as I'm concerned (for example) Ashcroft was more likely talking about the ACLU types who made such a fuss about the conditions in Camp Xray that some moslim fanatics felt compelled to kidnap a WSJ reporter hostage to offer in exchange for better conditions for the prisoners

Then you would be wrong. When this statement was made the detainees were still in Afghanistan.