Obama: Cheney's Policies Made Us Less Safe (VIDEO)

In an interview with Harry Smith on CBS' "The Early Show," President Obama responded to criticisms from former Vice President Dick Cheney as well as those who think the U.S. should get more involved in Iran.

"He and I have a deep disagreement about what's required to keep the American people safe," Obama said. "I would argue that our policies are making the American people safer, and that some of the policies that he's promoted in the past have not." On Iran, he explained that he didn't want the U.S. to become "a foil" for justifying the crackdown on protesters.

SMITH: People in this country say you haven't said enough; that you haven't been forceful enough in your support for those people on the street -- to which you say?

OBAMA: To which I say: The last thing that I want to do is to have the United States be a foil for those forces inside Iran, who would love nothing better than to make this an argument about the United States. That's what they do. That's what we're already seeing.

We shouldn't be playing into that. There should be no distractions from the fact that the Iranian people are seeking to let their voices be heard. What we can do is bear witness and say to the world that the incredible demonstrations that we've seen is a testimony to, I think, what Dr. King called "the arc of the moral universe." It's long, but it bends towards justice. [...]

SMITH: Leon Panetta intimated the former vice president was playing politics with national security issues. The former president has intoned his own displeasure with some of your policy changes. I think they feel like some of the things that you've done, in fact, are treacherous.

OBAMA: Well, I think when it comes to Vice President Cheney, he and I have a deep disagreement about what's required to keep the American people safe. And I think that disagreement has been amply aired and certainly he has a right to voice his opinions. I would argue that our policies are making the American people safer, and that some of the policies that he's promoted in the past have not.

Watch:

Watch CBS Videos Online

Comments

[hellostats]

Why didn't Harry Smith pose a question about the effectiveness of sanctions against North Korea?

Intuitively, it would seem like sanctions strengthen dictatorships in a way very analogous to how 'Wars On Drugs' strengthens drug cartels.

[JackRusselTerrier]

Interesting. Could you expand on that subject.

[AngieMom57]

Ok, Shakespeare anyone? How will it all end, well, it's a mystery...­.

"...when Johnny comes marching home again, hooray, hooray..." ok, now get that rhythm and beat going real good and then....si­ng along, I've got the words down... :-) can't help singing a happy song EVERYDAY..­. the free placebo

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/thedishrag/2009/06/watch-jibjabs-parody-of-superhero-barack-obama.html

[Yermammy]

Why are you censoring comments? What have I said that isn't true? Chinese style thought control isn't a good idea here.

[AngieMom57]

HUmmm do u remember the tone to "...when Johnny comes marching home again, hooray..." ok, now get that going real good and then....

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/thedishrag/2009/06/watch-jibjabs-parody-of-superhero-barack-obama.html

[JackRusselTerrier]

You like to ramble on don't you. Do you think you could stick to the topic instead of constantly re-posting with lame jokes that aren't relevant or funny. It's really getting anoying. Very rarely do I feel I need to say this to people - with you I do. This is not your personal blog.

[Yermammy]

Yes, and thanks to YOU, Mr. President Dick Cheney's still allowed to walk around freely instead of being put on trial for Torture (a War Crime) and Aggressive War ( Crimes against Humanity). Our treaties demand investigations, yet you hide behind blocking discovery, lawsuits and use states secrets privilege to deny justice. Not only that, but your DOJ has refused a Judge's order to allow habeas corpus at Bagram AFB for detainees and you've said you support this heinous Graham-Lieberman secrecy act. What, the new FISA betrayal wasn't enough? Keep it up. You're going to be judged complicit in war crimes too if you don't get busy holding investigations. And don't EVEN count on me voting again for you if you can't keep at least some of your promises. Transparency in Government? Don't make me laugh.

[ReealOne]

Is anyone else not having their comments posted? My comments have not violated the comment policy, yet is being censored.

[AngieMom57]

What r you saying :-) it might not be a conspiracy it might just be your server talking to HuffPo server...

[JBS]

You're not being censored. Huffpost's web lackeys periodically experience random episodes of incompetence.

[AngieMom57]

Or they are having their Meatless Monday Dinner!

[TJCole]

It's fundamental the Iraq War is the greatest Military and Strategic blunder in our history, and we left the Afghan War unfinished due to their excursion into Iraq, and now the Taliban is threatening Pakistan and their Thermo-Nuclear Arsenal is in play, and don't think for a minute it's not...

Bush and Cheney due to their arrogance and incompetence and lies, put the entire world in jeopardy not just the United States...!

[KayDGee]

Yes. Bush and Cheney worshiped the Dollar - And Haliburton was the biggest producer of Dollars in a war that had no oversight thanks to a bought-and-paid-for press. At one time I would have said that the religious supporters were duped; but the religious leaders gained undreamed of stature in the eight Bush II years. Only the poor schlep who thought he was worshiping God... and not the Dollar, was the loser in this. Those who signed up out of patriotic duty are owed a special apology from the thieves in the temple who continue ttheir blasphemy with a pitiful ploys to protect their shell game from being exposed for history to record..

[AngieMom57]

"thanks to a bought-and-paid-for press."

Well, I figure I'm the one that has to break the bad news to the masses, here it is, the new boss same as the old boss...

"...aided by a corporate media that continues to peddle fatuous gossip and trash talk as news while we endure the greatest economic crisis in our history, may have fooled us, but the rest of the world knows we are bankrupt..­."

[AngieMom57]

Get over it, it's over...the­re was a meeting last week in Yekateninburg, "the United States was denied admittance­." China has the money, the work force and the facilities to now be the world police. Iran was there, as was the other top offices of the six-nation SCO; "They are paying for America’s military aggression against them. They want to get rid of this.”

America is no longer the world police, and I for one am celebratin­g...

"They are paying for America’s military aggression against them. They want to get rid of this.”

http://www.commondreams.org/view/2009/06/15-0

Follow the thread. Follow the money it all comes back to our sleeping giant, China.

[lagumbo]

George Bush will go down in history as the worst president in the history of our country, and Cheney will go down as the most brutal vice. I put them both in the same category as pol pot.

[ReealOne]

** Kbkw54 said: "Obama looks less presidential every day. He is constantly blaming the previous administration. Obama is NOT a leader, he is a puppet for Pelosi and others. Obama is an embarrassment to the US" **

WRONG!! THE REPUBLICANS ARE THE ONES WHO ARE AN EMBARRASSMENT TO THE US. Does the lot of you have ANY idea at all what you look like to the majority of folks in this country, but especially to the folks around the world?! The Bush/Chene­y/Rumsfeld regime is what you should be calling an embarrassment.

The Republicans look like NOTHING but a bunch of fools, running around taking their orders from the extreme right-wingnut evangelicals who want nothing more than to jettison this world into a "zionist rapture". Do you know how that makes you, who have done absolutely NOTHING to clean up the mess your party got this country in, accept criticize Obama's administration on EVERY SINGLE THING... AND SAY COLLECTIVE NO ON EVERYTHING look to this country and the world?!

Republicans need to fix their OWN party, and just stay out of the business of this country until you do, as you've caused enough damage. Take a look at your party, if you really want to see an EMBARRASSMENT!

[AngieMom57]

Obama looked mighty presidential to me today...ch­eck out the Jib & Jab: Barack Obama Superhero video ... only if you think that a good belly laugh is the best medicine..­..

[Buddy McCue]

Is that why you've been singing "When Johnny Comes Marching Home Again?"

I thought it was a fitting theme for the animation, considering that the promise of bringing the troops home was such an important part of his election campaign.

[Bloodwart]

Cheney shouldn't be waterboarded. He shoud be keel-hauled!

[Yermammy]

That would be supreme hypocrisy. I'm a Liberal, not a poser and I want justice in a court of law for these war criminals. If Barack keeps it up protecting the Bush administration, he'll join them.

[SKEENGE]

It amazes me how many right-wing knuckleheads are reading the Huff post and posting their inane comments. I never watch Fox nor can I stand to listen to the rude yelling and interupting guests that appear on other networks. In fact, I'm having a hard time watching Olberman and Maddow because they spend most of their air time talking about Rush Limbaugh and Bill O'reilly. Anyone who comes on here spewing ignorant nonsense is no doubt getting their information from right wing news. They don't read and are not open to a dissenting opinion because they are convinced that the lies and hate they're being fed is gospel. These nitwits should be ashamed of themselves but I'm afraid that they're too stupid to even be embarassed.

[usawillprevail]

Maybe the TOTUS will tell you that obama is no leader.

If any of you have the guts to read the 911 commission report, they faulted clinton, bush, daddy bush, military, fbi, cia, etc with the 911 incident.

All obama has done is make a bigger laughing stock of us. Why has his poll numbers gone from 70-56%?? People are wising up


3 more years

[Extranjero]

You need to get a life!!!

[Jaladeno]

TOTUS? Trolls Of The United States? Are you their leader? Dick, is that you?

[PartyPartyParty]

The 911 Commission report is about as unbiased as an Elsa Schipiarelli dress.

And by the way, I ain't no defender of Clinton or Obama.

[Jaladeno]

People already wised up, which explains what happened in 2008. Do you ever plan on wising up your own self? (I thought I'd use some Dubya talk so you could follow along easier)

[ObamanextPresident]

lol

[Tommygun264]

Gee, a majority of the American voters and most of the rest of the free world disagree with you and your insistence on clinging to the failed policies of the past. The election is over, Obama won and he's cleaning up the mess your false gods Bush/Cheney left. Get over it.

[edgarcaycedoc]

What we do to our enemies (torture=w­aterboardi­ng, massive decibels, electric cables, etc) will teach our enemies what to do to us.

[Tommygun264]

If Cheney's contention that his illegal policies kept us safe had any credibility, why weren't we hit as soon as he he left office? Every day I look into the sunset, stand on one foot, wave my hands in the air and shout "ooga-boog!" three times and we still haven't been hit, even with Cheney out of office. Therefore, my claim that I have kept us from getting hit again has more credibility than Cheney's.

[CryptoSolipsist]

Thanks you for saving all of Western civilization! Of course, if there is an attack on home soil now, we will have to hold you responsible for not yelling OOGA BOOGA loud enough!

[Tommygun264]

Nah, I'll just pull a Cheney say I passed the torch to Obama, so it's all his fault.

[alewis14151]

Why am I blowing this whistle? Because it keeps the elephants away.

There are no elephants here.

See?

[returnofthejedi]

Your ooga booga di#$less

[LinkSync]

This is all fundemntally nonsensical distration and red herring tactics being enacted to mislead the public into thinking there has been change.
We still do Renditioning.
We still do abuse of Habeas Corpus Rights.
We still do illegal wiretapping.

Has it never occured to you that nobody has managed to even ASK about those issues in any interview with BO?
And if they did would he manage to give some flowery eloquant answer where the skys would open, and the light come down, even as he denied us SINGLE PAYER Health Care with his commitment to the for profit so called "providers"?

Fools!

[usawillprevail]

well said

[JackRusselTerrier]

You're wrong about all people blindly following Obama. Although, there are too many people, once they vote, turn their back on the political process. This goes for both Democrats and Republicans. Whether or not I voted for that person is irrelevant, once the election is over, I will do all that I can to push for sensible laws.

It's not a matter of your guy or my guy. These politicians are supposed to work for us, the American people, not the lobbyist.

I think it's foolish to be loyal to a party or a politician and not be objective. Too often politicians make promises and then once elected go a different way. We must hold them accountable.

If I could, I'd kick 90 percent of these career politicians out of office on both sides of the isle because what we really have is not a Democracy but a Corporatocracy. It should be illegal for them to use the revolving door if voted out of office. Campaign finances, please - don't get me started. The system is corrupt and needs to change. We're being played by both sides. It's a game of good cop/bad cop and divide and conquer.

Unfortunately when I vote, I have usually have a choice between bad and worse. All I can do ( short of a revolution ) is make the best decision I can and hold them accountable, whoever gets in office.

If you have a better idea - I'd love to hear it.

[usawillprevail]

Jack you raise some very interesting points, and may I add, without the sheepish rantings of the obamabots!

Many people we knew voted for obama because either they did not like Bush or really believed in the change and hope he spoke of.

Now, a few of them have lost their jobs due to the economy and even THEY know it is not Bushes fault. However they do blame obama because he signed in that riduculous stimulus package which has hurt instead of stimulating growth. Why the 2 mill for the study of the fruit fly? or 800,000 for manure? Or the 1 million on the study of grapes? These are not life-threatening or altering monies that had to be spent now, but Obama never read thru it and was too busy paying back his backers. If our econ was not as bad as it is now, then it would not be a big thing.

As far as his relationships with national security? it is a joke! It really is no secret that when bush was pres that Iran and N Korean didnt do the same games they are now; they are doing it because they know obama will not stand up to them.

It is a person thing to elect the best person, but right now, those folk who elected obama will not be re-electing him regardless - they feel betrayed and duped.

[JackRusselTerrier]

To all those who think Bush / Cheney / Etc. kept our country safe,

I'll start with the obvious, which you fail to recognise. We were warned of an attack before 911. Bush / Cheney / Etc.. ignored these warnings and we were attacked. Instead of surgically taking out these extreme elements ( which Reagan / Wilson created by the way ), we invaded Afghanistan accomplishing nothing . Instead of capturing Bin Laden and his followers, we then invaded Iraq on false premises pushed through by Cheney.

Your premise seems to be that no new attacks have happened in America since 911. They have no need to come to America. It is now even easier for terrorist to attack Americans. We are now in their country. There have been more American casualties in Iraq and Afghanistan than 911. Hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians have died in these countries. There are millions of displaced refugees. We violated domestic and international laws by torturing prisoners, many of which were were completely innocent.

Now we have more enemies than ever before. Those that lost loved ones in Iraq and Afghanistan are angry. We did not liberate them from tyranny. They are not better off. Now there are people who are motivated to kill Americans who never were.

We are now trying to "gracefully exit" from Iraq and still trying to "win" in Afghanistan. All this could have been avoided if Bush / Cheney / Etc, just "kept us safe" in the first

[dollyfedup]

How about Cheney tell the families of all the victims of 911 how he and Bush kept the country safe and see what they say. Republicans seem to think that their term didn't start until after 911. I bet if we get hit on Obama's watch, he won't get this luxury of saying he kept us safe for the rest of his term and the public believes him.

Obama is being watched so carefully it ain't funny. They wanted to make a big deal about him killing a freaking fly. That's how closely he is watched! I know why though. He is brown and the previous admn. was white. Therefore, they get a free pass on everything.

[ObamanextPresident]

Excellent! But sadly, to the detriment of our country...­.

"all those who think Bush / Cheney / Etc. kept our country safe"

are incapable of such realizations. Their authoritarian brains are simply not wired to accept such reasoned, rational, truthful, historical words.

[cyclobenzaprine9]

=) So true!

[cyclobenzaprine9]

Wonderful analysis. Thanks!