Bush, at a G8 press conference still underway, was asked by a British journalist (definitely paraphrasing):
"These memos say that torture is an acceptable practice under US and international law, so when you say that you're complying with the law, that isn't very comforting."
Bush then replied (again, definitely paraphrasing):
"We operate under a system of laws. You can look at those laws, and that should be comforting to you."
Essentially, the reporter said "the memos say torture is OK by law," and Bush said, "we follow the law."
Update: The AP via WJXT Jacksonville summarizes an earlier exchange on the issue:
Asked about a Justice Department memo that said the United States could use torture to interrogate prisoners in the war on terror, Bush said that he cannot recall if he saw the memo.
The president said that his instructions for interrogations were to "conform to U.S. law" and to act "consistent with international treaty obligations."
"What I authorized was staying within U.S. law," said Bush.
Update: More AP, from
The Guardian:
Addressing advice the White House got suggesting torture might be allowed for some terrorist interrogations, President Bush said Friday he ordered U.S. officials to act consistent with law and international treaties.
"What I authorized was staying within U.S. law," Bush said at the conclusion of the G-8 summit meeting here. The president said he doesn't recall seeing Justice Department advice about the conditions for such torture.
Asked repeatedly about it, Bush sidestepped a question about whether he thought torture was immoral, saying that his instructions were "to adhere to law. ... We're a nation of law" and
"you might look at those laws."
The direction he provided was to "conform to U.S. law" and to act consistent with international treaty obligations, Bush said.
Update: From the
transcript:
Q Mr. President, I wanted to return to the question of torture. What we've learned from these memos this week is that the Department of Justice lawyers and the Pentagon lawyers have essentially worked out a way that U.S. officials can torture detainees without running afoul of the law. So when you say that you want the U.S. to adhere to international and U.S. laws, that's not very comforting. This is a moral question: Is torture ever justified?
THE PRESIDENT: Look, I'm going to say it one more time. If I -- maybe -- 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 those laws, and that might provide comfort for you. And those were the instructions out of -- from me to the government.