On April 16, 2003: Donald Rumsfeld authorized the use of 24 specific torture techniques for use in Guantanamo, stating authority for additional techniques for a particular detainee may be requested.

Two months later, President Bush issued a statement in observance of the United Nations International Day In Support Of Victims of Torture, asserting:

“The United States declares its strong solidarity with torture victims across the world. Torture anywhere is an affront to human dignity everywhere. We are committed to building a world where human rights are respected and protected by the rule of law.”

“Freedom from torture is an inalienable human right…Notorious human rights abusers…have sought to shield their abuses from the eyes of the world by staging elaborate deceptions and denying access to international human rights monitors…”

“The United States is committed to the worldwide elimination of torture and we are leading this fight by example. I call on all governments to join with the United States and the community of law-abiding nations in prohibiting, investigating, and prosecuting all acts of torture…”  (quoted in the CIA Inspector General Report (2004, p. 93-94)

In Jan. 2005, President Bush assured the world: “Torture is never acceptable, nor do we hand over people to countries that do torture.” (The New York Times cited by Jane Mayer, Outsourcing Torture, The New Yorker, Feb. 2005)