Boston Globe: 3 Key GOP Senators Upset with Bush

Via the ajc.com: "Three key Republican senators on Wednesday condemned President Bush's assertion that his powers as commander in chief give him the authority to bypass a new law restricting the use of torture when interrogating detainees.

John Warner (R-Va.), who chairs the Senate Armed Services Committee, and Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) issued a joint statement rejecting Bush's assertion that he can waive the restrictions on the use of cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment against detainees to protect national security.

'We believe the president understands Congress's intent in passing, by very large majorities, legislation governing the treatment of detainees,' the senators said. 'The Congress declined when asked by administration officials to include a presidential waiver of the restrictions included in our legislation. Our committee intends through strict oversight to monitor the administration's implementation of the new law.'

Separately, the third primary sponsor of the detainee treatment law, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), said he agreed with everything McCain and Warner said 'and would go a little bit further.'

'I do not believe that any political figure in the country has the ability to set aside any . . . law of armed conflict that we have adopted or treaties that we have ratified,' Graham said. 'If we go down that road, it will cause great problems for our troops in future conflicts because nothing is to prevent other nations' leaders from doing the same.'"