Military Leaders Oppose Bush Plan For Geneva Conventions

Bush, Cheney and the cabal continually deceive, lie, bend and break laws. Why are so many military leaders speaking out against Bush? It’s time to take some advice from the people who do know better. 29 Retired Admirals and Generals, Military Leaders and Former DOD Officials Urge Congress to Preserve the Geneva Conventions Two Former Joint Chiefs – Generals Shalikashvili and John Vessey – join 27 Others Military Leaders in Telling Administration Their Proposal Will Harm U.S. Soldiers Washington, DC – September 14 — In a letter to Members of the Senate Armed Services Committee released publicly today, 29 retired military leaders urged Congress to reject a provision of the Military Commissions Act of 2006 that would redefine Common Article 3 of the Geneva Conventions so as to downgrade the Conventions’ standards for humane treatment. In a separate letter, addressed to Senator John McCain, former U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff John Vessey, said: “If such legislation is being considered, I fear that it may weaken America in two respects. First, it would undermine the moral basis which has generally guided our conduct in war throughout our history. Second, it could give opponents a legal argument for the mistreatment of Americans being held prisoner in times of war.” The letter signed by 29 former military leaders also urged Congress to make the safety and protection of U.S. troops, should they become prisoners, the highest priority. Read the full letter. Read At Human Rights Colin Powell Against Bush Anti-Terrorism Bill By Richard B. Schmitt and Joel Havemann, Times Staff Writers 9:53 AM PDT, September 14, 2006 WASHINGTON -- President Bush's campaign for tougher legislation on terrorists suffered another blow today when Colin Powell, who served as secretary of State during Bush's first term, supported efforts to block the plan to reinterpret Geneva Convention restrictions on the interrogation of prisoners. Powell spelled out his position in a letter to Sen. John McCain of Arizona, one of three Republicans on the Senate Armed Services Committee who are seeking to thwart Bush's plan. "The world is beginning to doubt the moral basis of our fight against terrorism," Powell said. "To redefine [a portion of the Geneva Convention] would add to those doubts." More than that, he said, it could lead to the mistreatment of American troops captured in Iraq and elsewhere during the war on terrorism. Read At LA Times