I’m shocked!

“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.

“The world is beginning to doubt the moral basis of our fight against terrorism,” said Powell, who served under Bush and is a former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. “To redefine Common Article 3 would add to those doubts. Furthermore, it would put our own troops at risk.”

I love the play up on this, “wide republican division” my arse. You have McCain, Lindsey and Warner, the same group of microphone sucking malcontents that block Bush at every turn. Powell’s attitude on this I expected. This is more of the “Bush 41″ vs “Bush 43″ war that has been raging since the Iraq war.

Funny how it came on the heals of the “Armitage/Plame Game”. Seems maybe Powell is attempting to change the subject?

Or perhaps, I wonder if this has anything to do with the rumor I’m hearing that McCain has asked Powell to run with him in 2008? Of course we know McCain’s chances of being President, if not do the math 1-1=0.