Ashcroft: Sometimes I Confuse What People Tell Me With RealityIf this doesn’t set the tone for former Attorney General John Ashcroft’s testimony before the House Judiciary Committee on interrogation methods at Guantanamo, I don’t know what does.
In his opening statement, Ashcroft admitted that he had “limited recollection” of the events pertinent to the committee’s inquiry. Specifically, “it’s been difficult … to distinguish between what I in fact recall as a matter of my own experience, and what I remember from the accounts of others.”
Before these hearings commenced, I had but a limited recollection of many of the events pertinent to your inquiry. In attempting to prepare for this hearing, I have reviewed testimony from prior hearings, I’ve read portions of publications recounting some of the timely events, and I must admit, it’s been difficult for me sometimes to distinguish between what I in fact recall as a matter of my own experience, and what I remember from the accounts of others. As a result, what I hope, what I say will be of value to the committee. Reliance on my statements and observations aught to be tempered by these awarenesses.
For smart guys, there sure seems to be an awful lot of lack of recall in the Bush administration.