The Bush administration can be forgiven for being a little confused at the disgust following statements which are seemingly in contradiction with their policies. They simply don't understand why statements like "we do not torture" and "we do not wiretap without without a warrant" should cause so much concern.
All they've been doing is telling the truth. Perhaps the problem is not so much that they are lying, but that we don't understand what they are saying. Really isn't the word "torture" pretty all-encompassing? Just about anything (George W. syntax for example) could be considered torture (of the English language) if you're some namby-pamby liberal.
That's why we need a very strict definition of torture and if we don't actually know what the administration's strict definition of torture is because it's being kept locked up in solitary confinement with dirty underwear stuffed in its mouth? Well hey isn't that just our fault for not being mind readers?
Take Iraqi WMD for example when Donald Rumsfeld said that there is "no doubt" Iraq had WMD, what he meant is that There is No Doubt (The popular ska-punk fusion band). THAT Iraq (referring to 80's era Iraq) has WMD. It might seem to be a little bit out of context, but really isn't it our fault for not reading between the lines? The whole statement was being made in the context of No Doubt's soaring popularity and the national discussion of the government's previous support of Iraq. See? Clear as day.
Wiretapping? Of course we don't wiretap without a warrant. At least not within the context of the Patriot Act. Even beyond the context of the Patriot Act this statement is true. You see, president Bush simply issued his own warrant to himself. Again perfectly understandable.
Alberto Gonzales' stating during his confirmation hearing that it was "not the policy or the agenda of this president" to authorize actions that conflict with existing law? He meant at that TIME. Things change man.
Personally I think its time to get over this game of "gotcha" in regards to statements made by administration officials on the record. They say what they mean, and they mean what they say. It's time for us as the U.S. (A.) to support U.S. even if we don't agree with what U.S. is (are?) doing, because they (we) are U.S. and we (them) would not do anything that isn't (aren't) in the best interest of ourselves (them). Really its as simple as that.