From the press conference where Scott McClellan was asked about it:
"Q Scott, there are 17 former POWs from the first Gulf War who were tortured and filed suit against the regime of Saddam Hussein. And a judge has ordered that they are entitled to substantial financial damages. What is the administration's position on that? Is it the view of this White House that that money would be better spent rebuilding Iraq rather than going to these former POWs?
"MR. McCLELLAN: I don't know that I view it in those terms, David. I think that the United States -- first of all, the United States condemns in the strongest terms the brutal torture to which these Americans were subjected. They bravely and heroically served our nation and made sacrifices during the Gulf War in 1991, and there is simply no amount of money that can truly compensate these brave men and women for the suffering that they went through at the hands of Saddam Hussein's brutal regime. That's what our view is.
"Q But, so -- but isn't it true that this White House --
"Q They think they're is an --
"Q Excuse me, Helen -- that this White House is standing in the way of them getting those awards, those financial awards, because it views it that money better spent on rebuilding Iraq?
"MR. McCLELLAN: Again, there's simply no amount of money that can truly compensate these brave men and women for the suffering --"
And on and on at truly painful length. Apparently, if there's no amount of money that can compensation you, they don't have to pay you anything.
http://www.thismodernworld.com/weblog/mtarchives/week_2003_11_09.html#001200