CONCORD, N.H. (AP) – Sen. John McCain held his ground Sunday in his running disagreement with the Bush administration over rules for CIA interrogations of terrorism suspects. Those responsible for Sept. 11 and subsequent terrorism attacks are “the most evil people in the word,” he said, “but this issue isn’t about them. This issue is about us.”

The Navy pilot held captive for five years and tortured by the North Vietnamese said Americans will be captured in future wars, and the U.S. must not set a bad example by allowing harsher interrogation techniques than permitted by the Geneva Conventions.

Speaking to about 70 people at a reception, the Arizona Republican focused on the part of the conventions intended to protect prisoners who do not qualify for the broader protections accorded to prisoners of war – an Army Special Forces soldier not wearing his uniform, for example, or a CIA officer taken prisoner by Iran.

“That’s what we do not want, because Americans would be setting the precedent for changing a treaty that has been untouched by any nation for 57 years,” he said.

Both administration officials and the small group of Republicans opposing the administration on the subject said during the weekend they are confident they can reach a compromise.

Though enemies such as al-Qaida flout the Geneva Conventions, as McCain’s captors did, McCain said the United States must not. One of the things that sustained Americans in North Vietnamese prisons was the knowledge that “we come from a better nation with better values,” McCain said.

Though he has led GOP opposition to Bush on the issue, McCain – widely expected to run for president in 2008 – mostly spurned opportunities to bash Bush during a question-and-answer period.

“I support this president and I believe in him,” McCain said while answering a question on illegal immigration.

He was tactful again when asked whether he was prepared to endure the attacks and abuse directed at presidential candidates these days – and which critics blamed for Bush’s defeat of McCain in the 2000 South Carolina presidential primary. The defeat ended a McCain surge that began shortly before when McCain beat Bush by 18 percentage points in the New Hampshire primary. McCain declined to take the bait, saying he lost the Republican nomination to Bush that year because “he ran a better campaign.”

Without naming Bush, McCain did criticize him on Iraq. He said the many U.S. mistakes in the war included Bush’s “Bring ’em on” taunt to the insurgents. McCain said the worst U.S. mistake was sending too few troops to provide security after Saddam Hussein was toppled.

On the other hand, McCain said, “I believe and agree totally” with Bush that the United States should not quickly withdraw from Iraq.

“I believe chaos will ensue … and I believe it would spread in the region,” he said.