This is what Colin Powell's middle finger looks like

The former secretary of state has finally stepped out of the shadows and into the mixer. He sent a letter to Sen. McCain and others, arguing against the White House's attempt to exclude American Forces from the Geneva Convention restrictions on torture and like-minded rules. You know, pesky humanitartian ideals that get in the way of the "War on Terror."

Pfah.

Powell wrote, "I just returned to town and learned about the debate taking place in Congress to redefine Common Article 3 of the Geneva Convention. I do not support such a step and believe it would be inconsistent with the McCain amendment on torture which I supported last year... The world is beginning to doubt the moral basis of our fight against terrorism. To redefine Common Article 3 would add to these doubts. Furthermore, it would put our own troops at risk."

According to CNN, Powell also wrote that he agreed with the position of General John Vessey, Reagan's chairman of the joint chiefs, who had counseled McCain that redefining Common Article 3 would "undermine the moral basis which has generally guided our conduct in war throughout our history."

Said Vessey, "In my short 46 years in the armed forces, Americans confronted the horrors of the prison camps of the Japanese during World War II, the North Koreans in 1950-53 and the North Vietnamese in the long years of the Vietnam War, as well as knowledge of the Nazis' Holocaust depredations in World War II. Through those years, we held to our own values. We should continue to do so."

A-fucking-men.

This is an important step, methinks. The number of Republicans and former supporters abandoning Shrub are growing, almost by the day. But Powell carries weight with both sides, and has been known as an almost apolitical figure of integrity. I can't see Shrub brushing this off any time soon.

"But Mr. President, the man YOU chose as your first secretary of state has said that this is a stupid idea."

Yar. Here's to you, Mr. Powell.