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

[tubette]

WHAT possible good can come from Cheney saying this??? Just to feed his ego? Or to scare his supporters? What is his motive?????????????

[Marcospinelli]

One motive is to prevent cutting down defense spending, more of the fear campaign.

Another motive is that if and when there is an attack, he wants Obama to be blamed, and not the failure of the Bush&Cheney administration that spent us into oblivion while failing to apprehend Osama Bin Laden.

[CapableOne]

THAT didn't take long.

[FloridaMich]

Somebody stuff some socks into his mouth, please.

[oregonbird]

The attack on 9/11 was the symbol of your administration's success. Although the increasingly dangerous attacks throughout the world, on travelling Americans, allied forces and civilians, is also directly attributable to you. Ten years ago we could travel safely in South America, through most of the European continent, in Asia and Africa. Now, leaving US borders is feasible only if we leave behind goodbye letters to our loved ones. That is your legecy, Cheney.

Will we get bombed again? Oh, sure. Just recently they discovered dirty bomb materials in a New Hampshire town. Seems a guy there was big on the 'southern strategy' that the GOP bases its policies on. You know -- anyone who doesn't look like us or talk like us -- they aren't us, and we'll take them out. And it was lack of controls that allowed him to put those materials together -- that is your legacy to the American People too. That, and food that makes us sick, run-off from chemical plants, worse air quality, deforestation --

We can handle a terrorist attack. Lots of countries have them, and somehow survive without causing a nuclear war or starting pre-emptive strikes against the wrong targets. What we can't survive is letting you get away with what you did to us.

The American People want you brought to justice. And we will get what we want.

[RRG64]

Nicely said.

[grata2ude]

Would somebody please put a sock in chicken little's mouth. If the sky does fall I hope he's standing under it.

[AbbieHoffman2]

s.omebody r.endition t.his a.sshole

[TFlint]

Remember, Cheney and his puppet were fully warned about 9/11 in advanced and they let it happen.

[mcantwell]

I have changed my mind. I feel we American's must be told the truth behind all of the torture and other crimes during the Bush Administration. I'm starting to believe that it is much worse than anyone realizes. I think Cheney plays a large role in all of it.

[JustLucky]

Why is he being highlighted here in this forum with his venemous remarks?

[kevenseven]

To piss you off. How's that working out?

[MuseScavenger]

Just great, Kevy. How's your 401k?

[Colmore]

We just realised that the worst enemies of this country were in the GOP government. Saddam was not involved in 9/11. Al Queda was not welcomed in Iraq while Saddam was in power. The people had electricity, jobs, intact families. The Bush administration has caused more damage to the USA and the world than any "enemy combatant" could. Every last one of them should be ashamed to show their faces in public. What makes this person think that we want to hear what he has to say anymore? He lied for 8 years, made millions thru Halliburton, and smirks at us from the TV. To paraphrase Cheney himself "Go F Yourself" just as he said to Patrick Leahy on the senate floor.

[UCFPoliSciGuy]

amen

[FCBarca]

Cuckoo

[DM]

There is a section of the population that cannot come to grips with the fact that they themselves have made mistakes and wrong choices (of elected politicians). Apart from this crowd, Cheney has absolutely zero credibility ... who cares what he says outside of the treason trial he so richly deserves.

[skene]

Go fish or hunt or something.­.... go away.

[dragonlady620]

Go to PRISON!

[StrongSolo]

This man, his comments, drive me LOCO! Just read Sunday NY Times, NY Review of Books torture report from the American Red Cross for the Al Quaida detainees.­.. they're major bad guys. I have one response. I would rather lose my life in a terrorist attack led by one of them than have the torture tactics of the past administration go to work on them in 'my' name, my country's name. Just what does our country stand for?

[Ergon]

Here's how Bush Jr. almost got impeached back in 2003 just before the Iraq war. Sadly, the Dems folded : http://www.counterpunch.org/boyle07252003.html

[Michael Rumbach]

His criticism is endorsement enough for the incoming. A denouncement from Cheney is like a letter of reference.