Powell Opposes Bush on Torture

Gen. Colin Powell and top Senate Republicans have refused to co-sign President Bush's plan to authorize harsh interrogations of terror suspects. The administration's bill would allow coerced testimony (read: torture) and protect US interrogators against prosecution for using methods that violate the Geneva Conventions.

“The world is beginning to doubt the moral basis of our fight against terrorism,” said Powell, who served as Bush's first secretary of state and formerly chaired the Joint Chiefs of Staff. “To redefine Common Article 3 would add to those doubts. Furthermore, it would put our own troops at risk.”

Firing back, White House spokesman/former Fox News anchor Tony Snow said Powell was "confused" about the White House plan. Later, by a vote of 15-9, the Senate Armed Services Committee pushed through their own bill. GOP Sens. John Warner (VA), John McCain (AZ) and Lindsey Graham (SC)—all veterans—say they will fight the administration plan to allow torture and expose American troops to harm in the future.

Interesting. Bush, Rove and Co. intended to use the "weak on terrorism" issue against Democrats. But now it's become the White House "chicken hawks" against Republicans with actual military experience, including a former POW. Stay tuned.

Senate Committee Rebuffs Bush on Tribunals (Bloomberg)

Powell Opposes Bush on Geneva Conventions (Raw Story)

Comments

[Bernie]

Does it strike you as odd that the so-called "hawks" in the White House never served in the military? I guess it's always easier to send someone else's kids into the face of danger when you have no concept of what it's like.

[Alan T]

How can Tony Snow call Gen. Colin Powell confused? Powell directed Desert Storm and John McCain was a Vietnam POW. If anyone, they should know how to treat prisoners of war.

[jared]

too little too late, elction year and they are standing up to him? who really cares anymore?

[Mervin Malone Jr.]

I've always had issues with Mr. Powell. First, he was so insistent that gays not compare gay rights and civil rights. Indeed, he once said that gays had no claim to civil rights. Now the little joker wants to defy Bush? He never stood up against Bush when it really counted! He always valued loyalty over leadership. The fact that he's speaking out NOW doesn't matter since he's not in Bush's fold anymore (when he could've done some good).

[Zeus]

I totally agree with the previous posters.. all of them. However, I have a good bit of respect left for Colin (not all respect, but a good bit of it). Whenever I see his face now I think of Harry Belafonte's allusion to him being a House Nigger and I cannot defend Colin too much when this title comes up, because, he as a Black leader could've stood up to these social and racial conservatives who were only using him as a prop just to get the Black vote.

Colin probably realized this later on and saw the truth that he couldn't change the party form inside and left with whatever dignity he had lingering, but he lost the respect of a good number of folks like me in the process long before he had a change of heart.

Sorry Colin, when you had the chance to make a rightful choice you didn't, too little too late my brotha.