Powell Blasts Bush Interrogation Plan

Former Secretary of State Colin Powell sided with Sen. John McCain and others in opposition to Bush’s plan to authorize harsh interrogation of terror suspects. “The world is beginning to doubt the moral basis of our fight against terrorism,” he said.

AFP:

WASHINGTON – Former Secretary of State Colin Powell on Thursday endorsed efforts by three Republican senators to block President Bush’s plan to authorize harsh interrogations of terror suspects.

The latest sign of GOP division over White House security policy came in a statement that Powell sent to Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., one of the rebellious lawmakers. Powell said that Congress must not pass Bush’s proposal to redefine U.S. compliance with the Geneva Conventions, a treaty that sets international standards for the treatment of prisoners of war.

This development accompanied Bush’s visit to Capitol Hill, where he conferred behind closed doors with House Republicans. His would narrow the U.S. legal interpretation of the treaty in a bid to allow tougher interrogations and shield U.S. personnel from being prosecuted for war crimes.

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