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.

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Comments

[moxieme]

They just can't let go! Its amazing, just amazing that these buffoons believe they can still get some consideration. Cheney's mind is consumed with meglomanism. I believe the only reason former POTUS Dubya Bush weighed in at all is because Cheney upstaged him. A nice lo-o-o-o-ong vacation is what they both need.

[alewis14151]

Bush has been on vacation since he was 8 years old. What're you sayin'?

[usawillprevail]

Hey al:

Did your mommy iron your obama brown shirt yet???

[Yermammy]

Yeah, in the SuperMax in Colorado. They can get all the "rest" they need there.

[patrickgarret]

911 = BUSH and the Republican's watch. I WILL NEVER LET ANYONE FORGET who was "protecting" us when this happened.

[baROCK]

...odd! Wasn't dubya POTUS prior to September 11,2001?

[Jaladeno]

But on the plus side, he did finish "My Pet Goat" without being too distracted by the illustrations.

[Troyxx]

He, he! How very droll and succinct. This also applies to Miss Silly Pants - Palin - as well. Neither one of them can read or speak intelligently. Lord, spare us from such as these! Anti-intellectualism sucks big time.

[usawillprevail]

Thank you Mr Cheney for trying to keep us safe instead of prancing around the world like a trick poodle looking for adoration and doggie treats!

Your leader cannot sweet talk and use his poise to stop any attacks. They are laughing at him and at usa because they know dear leader is a wimp and would rather see an attack so he can try to show how strong he is!

Look at this approval rating today - Gallop and CNN have him at 56%! AND 58% do not agree with how he is handlling National Security!

Go ahead, blame bush for his numbers, but they are gonna plummet!

2012 less than 3 years away!

[TFlint]

Guess some people can't help loving illegal war, mass murder, torture and discarding human rights, privacy and the Constitution.

[patrickgarret]

LOL Wishful thinking. This President will be very popular for 8 years. Mark my words.

[Beowoof]

I know. There's nothing like clinging to a failed idiology and flawed policy to the very end. Cheney's only saving grace would be another attack on us.......so he's got to keep holding on.

[usawillprevail]

well patrick better start brown shirting up - his approval ratings are slipping every day!

Make sure your obama brown shirt is neat and tidy

[baROCK]

I'm kinda partial to * I'm The Deceider* title. So bushie...yawn!

[RepublicansRejected]

fanned for your avatar

[GeneralDisarray]

Lol , This is how its gonna work, Your gonna BooHoo everyday for the next 3 years, Then you get ONE vote, Then you can boohoo for another 4 years, then another and so on. Enjoy!

[Tommygun264]

Yes, the USA will prevail, but your failed policies will not.

[Chace Haynes]

Very interesting that Obama is chosing to make the policies of GW and Cheney his own. One after another, this president has adhered to the destructive practises he once railed against and said he would change.

[Beowoof]

Obama's getting elected was not a revolution by any means. He will NOT change very much early on, other than the hearts and minds of those greatly affected in a negative way by the previous adminstration.

[Citizen13]

The blood of 3000 does not make you a hero. unless you are one of those who have amnesia about who was president on the day New York was terrorized.

War based on misinformation doesn't make you much of a hero either, keep trying.

Ignorant comments only highlight what we all know Cheney to be, a misinformed bully not fit to lead.

You who disagree have the rest of your life to make excuses for the past eight years.

[hollywoody5000]

It's about time SOMEBODY spoke up to Cheney...

[drbillybob]

Breaking - Commuter train wreck out of DC. "Many casualties" being reported ...

[alewis14151]

Can I flag this as off-topic?

[Jaladeno]

Train wreck? Cheney? Not really.

[SenGovLuvr]

"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."

Hope so, anyways.

Easy to disavow Bush policy,,,,,,,,,,until you get hit.

[SkelDaddy]

Who was it, again, who was asleep at the switch on 9/11?

[kasinca]

We got hit under Bush policy. Don't ever forget it.

[didntvote4thedude]

And when Cheney took over, no more attacks on American soil. Thanks for cleaning up Clinton's non action Mr Cheney.

[nanjemoy]

I really love Obama's disposition. He made the statement in disagreement with poise and respect.

[drbillybob]

Fact: All of Bush Justice agreed that waterboarding was legal. Everyone involved, including two Attorneys General. Some strongly objected to the use of this technique and others on moral grounds, but they were unanimous about the legality of these enhanced interrogation methods. All these guys agreed that the techniques employed at Gitmo were not torture as defined by the 1994 UN Convention Against Torture.

End of story ...

[TovSquirrel]

And that means what?

[returnofthejedi]

The key word is Bush Justice there doc.

[PartyPartyParty]

You mean that the Bush/Cheney administration declared the Constitution, the Magna Carta and the Geneva Conventions to be "quaint," don't you?

[Exexecution]

Not end of story. End of story in your mind.

[Exexecution]

Waterboarding is only one single aspect of the Bush Cheney torture program. Murder is illegal, last time I checked.

[amarti57]

Wrong. Obama's policies are making us less safe. Cheney is a hero.

[OdaNobunaga]

Cheney is a hero to all the villains of the world.

[pokemon]

You must be high..

[foxistoofunny]

That's right my great american minion. I like how you are towing the seanie line. We have to stick together as my conservatives in exile base is shrinking faster than glen beck's brain. d1ckie is my hero and friend,

Regards,
seanie

[Exexecution]

Cheney is a hero to knuckle-dragging single-toothed simians

[Citizen13]

The blood of 3000 does not make you a hero.

You must be one of those who have amnesia about who was president on the day New York was terrorized.

War based on misinformation doesn't make you much of a hero either. Too bad keep trying.

Your ignorant comments only highlight what we all know Cheney to be, a misinformed bully. Keep trying you have the rest of your life to make excuses for the past eight years.

[kasinca]

Cheney is a war criminal.

[ashman73]

2nd that

[Phreaked]

3rd

[drbillybob]

I assume you have a specific charge in mind?

[PartyPartyParty]

Violating the Geneva Conventions. Oh, wait, that's right: you regard the Geneva Conventions as a "quaint" document.

[Exexecution]

Numerous

[Daniel Torluemke]

Obama is right. It is a lie that Bush-Cheney "Kept us safe." Bush was in charge when 911 happened. He spent 91 days on vacation From january 20th 2001 until the end of August 2001. He ignored numerous pre 911 warnings.

Bush presided over the worst attack on U.S. soil in history. He deserves No credit for keeping anyone safe.

[sawbuck]

ditto. and cheney was responsible for the outing of a spy who was specifically involved in anti-terrorism work, as payback for her husband outing his lies. that alone should see him hung from a tree for treason.

[patrickgarret]

Such a stupid argument. So because we had no MAJOR terrorist attack the 100 years before us does that mean those presidents did a BETTER job than BUSH in "Keeping us safe?" ROFL IDIOTS!

[robadeaux]

Politician... to get paid well for stating the obvious...

[PartyPartyParty]

Yes, shame, shame on the Bush Administration for being stupid criminals who decided to legally codify torture, rendition and hold people indefinitely without charges. They should be investigated and prosecuted.

And shame, shame shame on the Obama administration for trying to rebury U.S. practices of unprovoked invasion, torture, rendition and holding people indefinitely without charges, to hide them back within the CIA where they were before Bush/Cheney and their thugs "legalized" such practices.

It's now out in the open: The United States government tortures, illegally invades sovereign countries and holds invididuals without charges. The Obama administration has the chance to not just re-bury our shameful history, but to make amends for it and try to assure that it does not do so in the future.

Until we stop violating the civil rights of the individuals and the sovereignity of other nations, The United States has no hope of being "safe."

[AngieMom57]

Shaming all over ourselves ;-(

[PartyPartyParty]

I left that part out, but yes. Shame on all of us.

[kasinca]

It is tough to stop the wheels that have been in motion of the judicial system in five months, expecially with moles planted to handle cases that began in the past eight years. He has declared that torture is not permitted. Some of the other, like rendition, I am watching also. You must admit this stuff was set in motion by the same renegade crime family that lied us into an unnecessary war.

[PartyPartyParty]

Yes, the Bush administration tried to make it legal. But it had been in practice long before HW, Clinton, Reagan, Carter, Nixon, Johnson, Kennedy, and back even further.

Although the current administration promises "real change," we're not getting any. We're just getting pre-Bush/Cheney. And Obama/Emanuel don't even seem to be interested in removing the legal justification of torture from the books. They just want us to all forget that it's there.