by John M. Curtis
(310) 204-8700

Copyright September 15, 2006
All Rights Reserved.

inding himself squeezed by his Iraq policy, President George W. Bush squandered the political capital needed to get more concessions prosecuting the war on terror. Bush wants to continue bending the Geneva Convention, giving the Pentagon the green light to use controversial interrogation techniques prohibited under international law. U.S. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), a former 5-year-long Vietcong prisoner of war and soon-to-be two-time presidential candidate, said no to the administration's request, approving a bill giving more legal rights to incarcerated terrorists. Bush insists that affording terrorists rights under the Geneva Convention sabotages White House efforts to prevent terrorism. McCain believes that any reinterpretation of Common Article 3, which outlaws “torture” or any “affront to personal dignity,” hurts U.S. credibility and endangers the troops.

      Former Secretary of State and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Colin L. Powell voiced opposition to White House plans to redefine Common Article 3. “The world is beginning to doubt the moral basis of our fight against terrorism,” said Powell, whose persuasive speech Feb. 5, 2003 to the U.S. Security Council paved the way for the U.S. invasion of Iraq March 20, 20003. While not Powell's fault, the Iraq war robbed the U.S. of the moral authority for hunting down terrorists after Sept. 11. Powell's opinion wasn't appreciated by the White House trying to stay afloat before November's election. Rubbing salt in Bush's wounds were fellow Republicans on the Senate Armed Services Committee, including Chairman John W. Warner of Virginia, McCain, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Susan Collins of Maine, all joining Democrats supporting the new bill.

      Bush's problems started in June when the U.S. Supreme Court invalidated White House rules about prosecuting terrorists, including labeling them, with the help of then counsel and now U.S. Atty. Gen. Alberto Gonzales, who ruled that “enemy combants” were not entitled to protections under the Geneva Convention. White House plans to try captured terrorists at Guantanamo may be in jeopardy, if detainees get afforded the Geneva Convention. McCain supports a tribunal bill that gives legal protections to interrogators, while, at the same time, gives terrorists the right to due process. Changing Common Article 3, according to McCain, gives America's enemies the right to use torture. U.S. intelligence Czar and former U.N. Ambassador John D. Negroponte worried that McCain's new bill would close down ongoing interrogation programs seeking lifesaving intelligence.

      Fighting with his own Party six-weeks before midyear elections doesn't give the GOP much to cheer about. While Bush has delivered numerous speeches on Iraq designed to shore up support, a growing bipartisan group opposes the war. Losing support on the Republican-dominated Senate Armed Services Committee hurts Bush's strongest selling point, his handling of the war on terror. White House spin meisters always scored points linking Iraq and the wider war on terror. Now that they've joined the two, getting rebuked by Powell and the Senate Armed Services Committee hurts Bush's credibility. With growing sectarian strife and U.S. casualties rising, Iraq has become a much tougher sell. Bush gets plenty of support from the House, already approving his plans to try Sept. 11 mastermind Khalid Shaikh Mohammed and 13 other terrorists in military tribunals.

      Flexing his muscle on the Armed Services Committee, McCain distinguished himself from Bush's cadre of neo-conservatives, feverishly defending the Iraq war. Instead of patiently going about its business, the White House overplayed its hand, insisting on a clarification of Common Article 3. “The enemy wants to attack us again,” Bush told reporters, opposing attempts to tie interrogators' or military judges' hands with battlefield detainees. White House officials still haven't figured out what to do with the High Court's action granting more rights to imprisoned terrorists. “Unfortunately, the recent Supreme Court decision put the future of this in question . . . We need this legislation to save it,” said Bush hoping to salvage White House attempts to try and convict terrorists in tribunals. “We're fighting an uphill battle,” said Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), conceding defeat.

      Fighting with McCain and the Senate Armed Services Committee shows how the White House has lost touch with mainstream Republicans. It's the wrong battle at the wrong time before midyear elections. Powell's surprise ambush, six weeks before November, points to unfinished business in his key role of promoting the Iraq war. Powell hasn't salvaged his credibility to the international community, trashing the findings of Dr. Hans Blix and his team of U.N. weapons inspectors, proving Saddam possessed no arsenal of deadly weapons. GOP officials fault Powell, a popular Republican, for giving Democrats ammunition before Election Day. “When conservative military men like John McCain, John Warner, Lindsey Graham and Colin Powell stand up to the president, it shows how wrong and isolated the White House is,” said Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.).

About the Author

John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He's editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.

©1999-2005 Discobolos Consulting Services, Inc.
(310) 204-8300
All Rights Reserved.