Cheney: Obama Has Raised The Risk Of Attack On America

Dick Cheney, in his first television interview since leaving office, didn't shy away from throwing a few haymakers at his White House successors, saying at one point that Barack Obama's policies had raised the risk of a domestic terrorist attack.

"I do," said the former vice president, when asked if President Obama's policies had made the U.S. less safe. "I think those programs were absolutely essential to the success we enjoyed of being able to collect the intelligence that let us defeat all further attempts to launch attacks against the United States since 9/11. I think that's a great success story. It was done legally. It was done in accordance with our constitutional practices and principles. President Obama campaigned against it all across the country. And now he is making some choices that, in my mind, will, in fact, raise the risk to the American people of another attack."

Speaking to CNN's John King, Cheney was referencing the Obama administration's decision to close the detention center at Guantanamo Bay, to strictly outlaw torture and define water boarding as such, and to suspend trials for terrorists by military commission. His comments furthered a line of attack he had made against the president in his first post-office interview with Politico.

Cheney's foreign policy critiques didn't end there. He also whacked the president for appointing Christopher Hill as the country's top diplomat in Iraq.

"He is not the man I would have picked for that post," said Cheney of Hill. "He has none of the skills and talents that Ryan Crocker has."

Comments

[wwwFIXNEWSNOWorg]

07:04 AM on 03/19/2009

As a journalist John King gave Cheney a free ride. I went to wikipedia to search for "John King" to see where he went to school for journalism (if he studied it at all). wikipedia organized the plethora of "John Kings" by category of craft. I found the CNN "John King" categorized under "Other" with the word "journalist" in parenthesis next to his name. But according to the glazed over eyeballs performance he demonstrated interviewing XVP Cheney, John could have been categorized under "Entertainment". His performance failed the test of journalism. I'm sure his alma matter would agree, lest they give up the curricula. John earned a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Rhode Island. They can't be proud of him, unless just "being" at CNN is all that matters. http://FixNewsNow.org

[BDHUH]

07:53 AM on 03/18/2009

I wonder what color the sky is in Dick's world. And what a Dick he is! Another win win for Cheney. When you live in a hermetically sealed moral universe like this, no rationalization is too far afield from the reality shared by us benighted civilians. If an attack happens, while I'm certain DC will "take no delight", he'll be proud to take credit for his sage counsel. If it doesn't, it's because they left enough stuff that WE did in place.

Oh, and "Stuff happens"?????Stuff Happens? I have always thought W had the moral maturity of a toddler but DC outdoes him with the pre-toddler-level omnipotence: all the "bad" stuff "happens" and all the good stuff is the direct consequence of my planning. It's not merely revisionist history, it's psychotic.

And...Where was John King's brain? I think Cheney must have top secret hypno-vision he developed in the cave which renders his interviewers helpless to the bad stuff "happening" out of his crooked mouth.

[kkrahel]

10:23 PM on 03/17/2009

Former Vice President/War Criminal Dick Cheney did an interview with CNN. If you listen carefully, especially in the later parts of the interview, he takes breaths between statements and... well... he sounds like Darth Vader. Seriously. And by seriously, I don't mean the right-wingers, they are by no means serious, at all.

"I AM YOUR FATHER."

http://newsblogging.wordpress.com/2009/03/17/darth-vader/

[ObjectiveRealist]

07:09 PM on 03/17/2009

Dick's entitled to his opinion [http://ga3.org/campaign/btcpetition] for now.

[Huntryx]

01:05 PM on 03/17/2009

This guy needs a long psychiatric hospitalization. This fear mongering is the preferred tactic of the republican elite but it's not patriotic, not true (never was) and is downright cruel given what we've got to worry about these days (jobs, homes, etc). I was hoping we'd seen the last of the Evil Empire but I guess nobody's asked Cheney to be the greeter at the local hardware yet.......

[notleftnotright]

10:10 AM on 03/17/2009

I can't openly say (its illegal) what I really think about Bush Cheney, Inc and what I believe should've happened to them a number of years ago. But what I will say is that, as a veteran, I was sick to my stomach to see these liars launch Bush's FOLLY in Iraq with the acquiescence of the COWARDS in Congress. And now to see all of the henchmen and ladies trotted out to appear with 'tools' like John King to save the draft-dodger's legacy is not surprising. In fact, they owe it to the men and women who served this country, and to their families, to be out there every day trying to justify their terrible decisions and their indifference to the consequences. But, the facts aren't gonna change. We will be stuck in Afghanistan for a long, long time and Iraq will never become anything like the neocon dream of a pro-American ally smack in the middle of oil country!

[rbsimon]

02:49 AM on 03/17/2009

Cheney is bin Laden to Obama's Bush.

Whatever Cheney says ... do the opposite.

http://scorpionbowl.blogspot.com/2009/03/it-was-torture.html

[Jeremy Nguyen]

12:59 AM on 03/17/2009

here is my response to this article in comic form:

http://www.jeremywinslife.com/2009/03/17/cheneys-vengeance/

[ChuckiePoo]

12:12 AM on 03/17/2009

Nothing increased the risk of a major terrorist attack on America more than having Bush and Cheney in the White House. Indeed, the only major terrorist attack on this country occurred on Bush and Cheney's Watch. Before 9/11, they were both asleep at the switch. Obama, Biden and their administration are wide awake, on the alert, and totally aware of the possibility of another terrorist attack. Who is Cheney to cast stones? He was in charge when we got hit. We're much safer today than when Bush and Cheney were running the show. Talk about the pot criticizing the kettle. Barack may be a Hussein, but Cheney is, and always will be, a Dick.

Please visit my Blog:
"Conservatives Are America's Real Terrorists"
http://conservativesarecommunistss.blogspot.com/

[newshawk14]

11:06 PM on 03/16/2009

I thought Cheney was an embarrassment as vice president, and now he simply seems to have gone
off the deep end. He lies with consummate ease and seems eager to cast aspersions on anybody
other than himself. He is truly despicable.

[William Rios]

11:43 AM on 03/16/2009

If Cheney & Co had any confidence in their legacy they would not be scrambling around trying to justify their administration. There are so many constructive and worthy causes (even conservative ones) that they could be working on to lift our country from this morass, but no they are just Hating with a capital 'H' 24/7. Geez!
Al Qaeda was nothing but a rather obscure network with limited reach and resources before the FBI & CIA dropped the ball under Cheney's watch Err! I mean Bush's watch. The platform and import handed to Al Qaeda fulfilled their wildest dreams to say nothing how they placed our soldiers in a Shooting Gallery for them.
Instead of harnessing the huge wave of sympathy we got from most countries after 911and going after them in way that lifted our moral standing they went nuts with our military resources.
Like a reckless child that finds his dad's gun safe open when his parents are on vacation.
Unlike the Republicans I hope that Iraq works out in spite of my serious doubts that it will.
I guess if you throw enough money at a problem it will get fixed.
If I hear that Bush kept U.S. safe one more time I will puke. I feel strongly that we have never been less safe specifically because of their policies. To think Cheney dodged the draft several times! Yikes : [

[givesflack]

05:05 PM on 03/17/2009

The attack on the US was a huge to the perpetrators and it was done during Bush 2. So he didn't keep us safe. Only a real grown up can admit that- there are none in the Republican party. They are only grown up when it comes to money, period, and how they like to keep their crooked friends happy. We spent our future away on two ridiculous wars- Afghanistan will become our next undesired war. So we should go after Cheney, who is the one man who should be thoroughly investigated, tried and convicted first. He needs to shut up. then the other criminals walking free- Rove, Bush etc... or I am going to puke. Then we need to after every other treasonous Republican who committed illegal acts against the laws of this country not just for us but the world over. We must show that these activities will no longer be tolerated. Obama has to put aside any solemn attempt at bipartisan compromise bullshit with the criminal party of the right with the proof already in existence and permanently cripple their ability to govern. Because they are criminal and we have all the proof we need to end their civil terror against our nation. The American people are still outraged about this while the right is trying to turn the other Democratic populist issue of the banks to their advantage. This is Right Wing Propaganda and social terrorism at work and Cheney is their Osama.

[protagonia]

10:49 AM on 03/16/2009

There is actual ev!I out there.

He is the embodiment.

[lesterbud]

10:39 AM on 03/16/2009

You elected Obama, now you will ALL DIIIIIIIIIEEEEEEEEE!
He Heh Heh Heh.
Oh yeah, the only way to prevent this is to impeach the Nig..I mean President and to give all you children to me for training.
He He Heh Heh.

[buzzygirl]

12:22 AM on 03/17/2009

And you will be among those in the rapture, right? Hate is like a flesh eating bacteria, did you know that?

Keep it up, you may be long gone before we all die as a result of president Obama's policies.

Hate=gangrine of the heart.

Have a nice day.

[squat6971]

09:47 AM on 03/16/2009

Arrest Cheney First

[Sumocat]

09:46 AM on 03/16/2009

9/11, anthrax letters, DC sniper... who was president during those attacks?