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

[AceInTheHole]

DOES THIS GUY REALIZE JUST HOW UNPOPULAR HE AND HIS VIEWS ARE IN AMERICA AND THE WORLD FOR THAT MATTER? THINK HE MIGHT BE SUFFERING FROM THE NEWT GINGRICH SYNDROME AND JUST DOESN'T KNOW HOW TO TAKE KNOW FOR AN ANSWER?

[dotsthefunist]

Is uncle Dicky from this dimension ?

[LWkcma]

I posted S#!+ hours ago and am still waiting for moderation. Is anyone working there??

[jsanti7]

Oh hell more cheney cyoa....his policy and support of a morally bankrupt and illegal torture policy as well as being myopic in the art of war has done more to put this country at risk from outside threats... than any ...all this to cover up the truth of his real threat to this country that him and his ilk represent and have bestowed on this country.. a tyranny that will take years to dismantle if at all. .. It makes me sad to think that a the biggest blow to this country may well have been dealt by and insider and one that still holds influence over the airwaves but then again goes to show truth can be strange than fiction. Love to see this guy tried for high crimes (torture and domestic spying)

[LWkcma]

TRIED THEN FRIED so we won't have to listen to their garbage any more.

[LWkcma]

y is moderation so slow?

[Phylmom]

He should know. He's probably planning the attack.

[mcantwell]

That sounds very sensational, but I wouldn't put anything past Cheney. I think he is a dangerous man and a war monger who has been running the show behind the scenes for a very long time.

[slarabee]

I wouldn't put it past him to have planned 9/11

[Paisano]

This guy is praying for an attack...

[Marcospinelli]

What ever happened to the protocol that former administrations lie low when their terms of office are over?

Clinton and Gore didn't surface for years, and then never to criticize the Bush administration. Gore had to be dragged kicking and screaming to comment about Bush's war for the 2004 election.

Bush 41 also remained out of the limelight and didn't comment about Clinton throughout his two terms.

[LWkcma]

We need to put these traitors in prison then we wouldn't have to listen to their CRAP any more.....

[rsprags]

CNN and Fox
continue to have the outcast of the Bush Era running around trying to re-forecast the accomplishments of the their glory days. And to rehash his fear tactics over the American people and the world. He is attempting to rewrite history. The shame is on CNN for continuing to bring these losers on for ratings and shock TV. It is great for the Obama Administration; it make you really look at the contrast between the two administration.

[Marcospinelli]

MSNBC is doing it, too. Last week Ari Fleischer and Frank Gaffney were rewriting history, promoting the lies that Saddam Hussein was behind 9/11.

If the Bush administration wants to prove their legacy so much, how about in front of a public war crimes' tribunal? How about hearings and investigations, a special prosecutor? How about Bush and Cheney testifying INDIVIDUALLY, not together, answering questions about the forged Niger documents?

[dave1111]

Listen Cheney, 7,000 DEAD Americans are proof that we are NOT safer. 3,000 from 9/11 and 4,000 and counting in Iraq.

[Marcospinelli]

The obvious retort to Cheney is that had Bush and Cheney been any good at protecting the US, we wouldn't be facing any attacks now. IF we are at all.

Cheney is a criminal who should be waiting for trial at the Hague.

Under Bush and Cheney, the enemies of the US won. We're broke. Bankrupted. The American way of life is done. Cheney and Bush should be forced to pay restitution and spend the rest of their lives in prison for the devastation they've caused this country.

[BannedInBoston]

Does the guy really believe his own b u l l s h i t, you have to wonder?

[gouge]

..............Why We Fight: ...........every voting citizen of this country should see this film -if for no other reason than to hear Ike Eisenhower warn us about Dick Cheney- not to mention how interesting it is to see the privatization of so much of the logistical essentials necessary to field a large army -Cheney's direct involvement in this -how much of the business then when to Bechtel Haliburton-

[Marcospinelli]

The only thing I want to hear from Cheney and Bush is their testimony at war crimes tribunals. I blame Obama for the brazen public comments by the Bush administration. If they were facing investigations and hearings, they'd be off the public stage now, afraid their words would be used against them in coming criminal trials.

[llykes]

Give the Pres. some time! I don't know how Obama could be held responsible for public comments made by the Bushies.

[evekendall]

Boycott CNN. They are just more Fixed News.