WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Former Secretary of State Colin Powell joined top Republican senators to oppose President Bush's request to reinterpret a Geneva Convention rule in order to allow tougher interrogations of terror suspects.
Powell wrote to a major opponent of Bush's plan, Republican Sen. John McCain of Arizona, in a letter released Thursday, that he opposed Bush's request of Congress to allow reinterpretation of Common Article III of the Geneva Conventions.
Article III prohibits nations engaged in combat not of "an international character" from, among other things, "violence to life and person, in particular murder of all kinds, mutilation, cruel treatment and torture" and "outrages upon personal dignity, in particular, humiliating and degrading treatment."
In a decision earlier this summer, the Supreme Court ruled that the administration must meet Article III standards in its treatment of terror detainees.
The administration believes that the court's ruling prevents it from properly interrogating terrorist suspects and asked Congress to approve a change in interpretation.
But McCain, a former Vietnam POW, and Powell -- along with Sens. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and John Warner of Virginia, chairman of the Armed Services Committee -- oppose any changes to the U.S. interpretation of Article III, arguing that it could adversely affect enemies' treatment of captured U.S. service members harshly. (Watch why the GOP is split over tribunals -- 2:40")
"The world is beginning to doubt the moral basis of our fight against terrorism," Powell, a retired Army four-star general, wrote in his letter to McCain, whose amendment last year opposed the use of torture. (Read Powell's letter)
"To redefine Common Article III would add to those doubts," Powell said. "Furthermore, it would put our own troops at risk."
McCain also has issued a letter from retired Army Gen. John Vessey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff during the Reagan administration, opposing the administration bill.
Vessey told McCain the measure "would undermine the moral basis which has generally guided our conduct in war throughout our history."
Military lawyers also have raised concerns about the administration bill's restrictions on due-process rights for defendants. Prosecutors would be able to present evidence to the tribunal that would be kept secret from the defense and use hearsay and coerced confessions against defendants. Human rights groups have objected to those provisions as well.
Powell's letter surfaced while Bush held a morning meeting with Republican lawmakers to lobby for his tribunal plan.
Bush: Changes are essential
After returning to the White House from Capitol Hill, Bush said the administration's proposed re-interpretation of Article III was essential if necessary intelligence was to be obtained from terrorist suspects.
"It is very important for the American people to understand that in order to protect this country, we must be able to interrogate people who have information about future attacks," Bush said. "I will resist any bill that does not enable this program to go forward with legal clarity."
"If there's not clarity, if there's ambiguity, if there's any doubt in our professionals' mind if they can conduct their operation in a legal way, with support of the Congress, the program won't go forward and the American people will be in danger," Bush said.
Vice President Dick Cheney and White House adviser Karl Rove joined Bush in his meeting with Republican lawmakers, The Associated Press reported.
Passage of both pieces of legislation is viewed as critical to the GOP's strategy to present itself as the party of national security going into the midterm elections less than two months away.
Republican showdown looming
After negotiations with the White House appeared to have broken down earlier this week, Warner's committee met Thursday morning to begin work on an alternate tribunal bill.
Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tennessee, has threatened to circumvent the Armed Services Committee and bring the administration's plan directly to the Senate floor, which could lead to an election-year showdown within Republican ranks.
The House Armed Services Committee passed legislation that authorizes terrorists tribunals that closely adheres to the Bush administration proposal on Wednesday.
CNN's Ted Barrett and Andrea Koppel contributed to this report.
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🇺🇸 Discussion: Congress, The Senate, The House of Representatives - Part I (3 Viewers)
