Mr. al-Shiriti, speaking on the ABC television show "Nightline," also claimed that "he was under a tremendous amount of pressure" when the photos were taken, and also that he had "an unusually large amount of caffeine" that morning. The combination of the cold, stress, and caffeine, Mr. al-Shiriti emphasized, "might give the impression that things are considerably, um, lesser than they really are." This lead to the following exchange between al-Shiriti and Nightline host Ted Koppel.

Koppel: Koppel: So do I understand you correctly that the shame and humiliation inflicted upon you is actually more than what appears in the photos?

al-Shiriti: No, not exactly. Think Ted . . . it was cold-really, really cold. I was submerged in an ice bath . . . submerged from the waste down Ted. Certain things tend to, say, diminish in cold water. Get it, Ted?

Koppel: So are you saying that the waste-down water torture diminished your dignity? Are you saying that it lessened your resolve?

al-Shiriti: Damn it, Ted. Shrinkage! It was cold and there was shrinkage! Think Seinfeld! I just don't want the world to think that I'm hung like a squirrel.

Koppel : So you're saying that the Americans hung you in ways similar to the way Saddam used to shrink and hang squirrels? I knew that Saddam was sick, but that's one of the most bizarre things I've ever heard. Just how many shrunken squirrels were in the torture chamber with you?

al-Shiriti: Well, let me put it this way. If you look at the picture closely, there is one miniscule shrunken squirrel. Before that squirrel was shrunk, it was a large, robust, healthy squirrel-maybe ten times bigger. Now that cold squirrel is looking for a warm beaver . . .

Koppel: Oh my god, are you saying that Saddam cooked and ate beavers?