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Colin Powell's Letter on Interrogation of Detainees
New York Times ^ | 9/18/06 | Colin Powell

Posted on 09/17/2006 6:00:30 PM PDT by freespirited

Dear Senator McCain:

I just returned to town and learned about the debate taking place in Congress to redefine Common Article 3 of the Geneva Convention. I do not support such a step and believe it would be inconsistent with the McCain amendment on torture which I supported last year.

I have read the powerful and eloquent letter sent to you by one [stet] my distinguished predecessors as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Jack Vessey. I fully endorse in tone and tint his powerful argument. The world is beginning to doubt the moral basis of our fight against terrorism. To redefine Common Article 3 would add to those doubts. Furthermore, it would put our own troops at risk.

I am as familiar with The Armed Forces Officer as is Jack Vessey. It was written after all the horrors World War II and General George C. Marshall, then Secretary of Defense, used it to tell the world and to remind our soldiers of our moral obligations with respect to those in our custody.

Sincerely,

Colin L. Powell

(Excerpt) Read more at graphics8.nytimes.com ...


TOPICS: Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: colinpowell; genevaconvention; interrogation; mccain
I hadn't realized that Powell's letter was addressed to McCain. Now it's clear how all this likely went down: McCain or one of his top staff called Powell and Vessey and asked them to provide letters stating their opposition to the President's proposal.

McCain then released the letters to his favorite people, the lamestream media.

1 posted on 09/17/2006 6:00:31 PM PDT by freespirited
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To: freespirited
..redefine Common Article 3 of the Geneva Convention..

Normally you have to go deeper than the first sentence to establish a false premise.

To my knowledge, no one is trying to "redefine" anything.

2 posted on 09/17/2006 6:05:31 PM PDT by evad (sarcasm may be introduced at any moment of any post)
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To: freespirited
Strike "Three" Colin Bowel

You are otta there! Go work on your Volvos in peace and anonymity.

TT
3 posted on 09/17/2006 6:07:09 PM PDT by TexasTransplant (NEMO ME IMPUNE LACESSET)
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To: freespirited

And Powell, McCain and their ilk show their ignorance, or is that stupidity, once again.

From all accounts their is no redifinition of Article 3 but a clear and concise definition, by the administration, being sought.

No one, to the best of my knowledge, has ever provided a clear definition of torture. It has always been phrased in vague generalities that could include being served tea instead of coffee.

Hell if that's the case my marriage is torture...UN please save me from my marriage!


4 posted on 09/17/2006 6:09:32 PM PDT by ctauch (Vote out the RINOs even if it means losing the Senate)
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To: freespirited

---
Sincerely,

Colin L. Powell
---

The FDF file that you show has the letter ending with John McCain signing off -- to a letter he wrote. I didn't see Colin Powell's name???????




5 posted on 09/17/2006 6:11:36 PM PDT by avacado
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To: freespirited

"I do not support such a step and believe it would be inconsistent with the McCain amendment on torture which I supported last year."

How would that be the case if it's the President asking to attach the McCain amendment on torture in order to clarify the Geneva Convention article 3?


6 posted on 09/17/2006 6:12:37 PM PDT by tobyhill (The War on Terrorism is not for the weak.)
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To: freespirited

For him to write that the world is doubting the morality of our war on terror is shameful. He means he is doubting it.


7 posted on 09/17/2006 6:15:26 PM PDT by Williams
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To: freespirited
Is this the same Colon Powell (yes I know how to spell his name) that kept silent for THREE YEARS when he knew that his buddy in arms at the State Department, Armitage, was the leaker in the Plame case??

What little respect I had for this man has completely evaporated.

8 posted on 09/17/2006 6:17:44 PM PDT by technomage (NEVER underestimate the depths to which liberals will stoop for power.)
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To: evad; freespirited
Today I've heard a number of talking heads point out that all this legislation does is apply McCain's own words to our "legal" understanding of a piece of the GC.

Makes me think Powell is talking through his hat.

9 posted on 09/17/2006 6:19:44 PM PDT by muawiyah
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To: avacado

That is Powell's signature and Powell's letterhead. His secretary probably just put McCain's full name at the bottom as is done when showing who gets a copy.


10 posted on 09/17/2006 6:22:30 PM PDT by Right Wing Assault ("..this administration is planning a 'Right Wing Assault' on values and ideals.." - John Kerry)
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To: tobyhill

Bingo! I don't get this....if McLame has given an amendment on torture...and Bush wants that to be the clarification he seeks, where is the beef? This idea that somehow our doing this will give other countries the right to "redefine" the article has little weight considering that Islamic fascists KILL and BEHEAD any of our captured soldiers RIGHT NOW! They do not follow the GC at all...and will not do so in the future! If they pilot jets into buildings with civilians, Islamic terrorists obviously think that the Geneva Convention is nothing more than a worthless document.


11 posted on 09/17/2006 6:28:17 PM PDT by t2buckeye
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To: freespirited
Now it's clear how all this likely went down:

Keep in mind Novak's announcement that his source on outing Plame as CIA, Armitage (and Powell), came out the same time.

This was to also timed to get the news of Powell and Armitage betraying the President off the front page.

Regards.
12 posted on 09/17/2006 6:28:53 PM PDT by ARE SOLE
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To: freespirited
"...It was written after all the horrors World War II and General George C. Marshall, then Secretary of Defense..."

His hero is George C. Marshall? Personally, I am inclined to side with Joseph McCarthy in what he implies in his dissertation Retreat From Victory

Whether you agree or disagree with what he implies, he meticulously put this together and had the guts to lay it on the line in public.

13 posted on 09/17/2006 6:30:02 PM PDT by rlmorel (Islamofacism: It is all fun and games until someone puts an eye out. Or chops off a head.)
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To: technomage
Is this the same Colon Powell (yes I know how to spell his name) that kept silent for THREE YEARS when he knew that his buddy in arms at the State Department, Armitage, was the leaker in the Plame case?? What little respect I had for this man has completely evaporated.

What you said.

14 posted on 09/17/2006 6:35:28 PM PDT by NurdlyPeon (Wearing My 'Jammies Proudly)
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To: freespirited

15 posted on 09/17/2006 6:35:43 PM PDT by Boazo (From the mind of BOAZO)
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To: Williams

Powell is a globalist first and foremost. The US is at the bottom of the important countries on his globe.


16 posted on 09/17/2006 6:44:33 PM PDT by OldFriend (I Pledge Allegiance to the Flag.....and My Heart to the Soldier Who Protects It.)
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To: technomage

Exactly. I could stomach a lot of his views and still respect him for his service, but what he has engaged in (as it appears he clearly did...Armitage could not and would not wipe his butt without getting permission or approval from Colin Powell) which is: the attempted sabatoge of and damage to the sitting administration in a time of war.

How could he. How could he do that?


17 posted on 09/17/2006 6:44:37 PM PDT by rlmorel (Islamofacism: It is all fun and games until someone puts an eye out. Or chops off a head.)
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To: freespirited

Powell= RINO
NY Times= Zero Credibility


18 posted on 09/17/2006 6:58:48 PM PDT by radar101
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To: freespirited

If it's in the Times, I could care less. I won't read it.


19 posted on 09/17/2006 7:04:58 PM PDT by popdonnelly
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To: freespirited

Explain to the Parents and other loved ones(me for one) of our brave warriors, Powell, you wimpy @$$ sucking sonovabitch! Just who the hell honors any moral obligation,including the Geneva Convention wnen it comes to treating America's Sons and daughters in military service, even close to as mercifully as moron's such as you force our troops to extend to an enemy that is as devoid of mercy as you, Colin, are devoid of common sense.

The worst blunder of the Bush Administration, Gen Powell, was assuming that you was on our side.


20 posted on 09/17/2006 7:19:08 PM PDT by F.J. Mitchell (The devil himself is less of a demon, than the devout and peace loving Islamofaciest who serve him.)
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