Bush dismantling the MSM in the Rose Garden today, and drawing the line in the sand. From Fox News:

“Bush said he wanted to make sure U.S. intelligence personnel were not fearful of doing their jobs.

“They don’t want to be tried as war criminals,” he said. “They expect our government to give them clarity about what is right and what is wrong.”

“These are decent citizens who don‚Äôt want to break the law,” he said.

Bush promised to work with Republican leaders on Capitol Hill who have split with him on the issue, including Arizona Sen. John McCain.

“I have one test for the legislation,” he said. “The intelligence community must be able to tell me that this vital program will continue.”

Four Republicans, led by Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., joined Democrats on Thursday on the Armed Services Committee and voted 15-9 for the measure that Bush opposes.

Three other Republicans joined all 11 panel Democrats in supporting the measure: Sens. McCain, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Susan Collins of Maine.

In a letter sent Thursday to McCain, Powell said Bush’s proposal to redefine the Geneva Conventions would encourage the world to “doubt the moral basis of our fight against terrorism” and “put our own troops at risk.”

Bush said his former Secretary of State’s criticism was “flawed logic.”

“If there’s any comparison between the compassion and decency of the American people and the terrorist tactics of extremists ‚Äî it’s flawed logic,” Bush said”

Masterful. Bush is saying, “If you don’t give our people the tools they need to protect the country the program – the interrogation of terrorist – will stop.” The ball is now back in McCain’s and the Democrat’s court. You want to demonize our men and women in the military and the IC, while giving the kit gloves to known terrorist? Make your position known. What’s it going to be? Your maniacal egos, or the safety of the American people?

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