Cheney Accuses Obama Of Launching "Intensely Partisan" Torture Investigation

Dick Cheney left little on the table during a taped interview Fox News Sunday, accusing the Obama White House pursuing an "intensely partisan" investigation into the use of torture under the Bush administration.

Calling the "enhanced interrogation techniques" used on terrorist suspects "absolutely essential," the former vice president deemed any decision to launch an probe into the possible illegal use of these EITs an "outrageous political act" and a "direct slap at the CIA."

"We had a track record now of eight years of defending the nation against any further mass casualty attacks from al Qaeda. The approach of the Obama administration should be to come to those people who were involved in that policy and say, 'How did you do it? What were the keys to keeping this country safe over that period of time?'" Cheney said.

"Instead, they're out there now threatening to disbar the lawyers who gave us the legal opinions -- threatening contrary to what the president originally said. They're going to go out and investigate the CIA personnel who carried out those investigations."

Saying the move to launch an investigation "offends the hell out of me," Cheney accused Obama of succumbing to the political pressure of his progressive base.

"We had a president of the United States, President Obama, tell us a few months ago there wouldn't be an investigation," said Cheney. "Now, they get a little heat from the left wing of the Democratic Party and they are reversing course on that."

Asked to respond to this charge in the past, the Obama White House has noted that, unlike the Bush administration, it does not put political pressure on the Department of Justice. The decision to pursue an investigation into the authorization of torture -- which will be preliminary in nature and narrow in scope -- was made by Attorney General Eric Holder alone.

"The president is the chief law enforcement officer in the administration," Cheney said. "He is now saying, well, this isn't anything he's got to do with. He's up vacationing in Martha's Vineyard and his attorney general is going back and doing something the president said some months ago he wouldn't do."

In the interview with Fox News Sunday, which was taped on Friday, Cheney insisted that newly released documents from the CIA proved that the use of torture on terrorist suspects were instrumental in preventing future attacks (a claim that the documents actually say is difficult to make).

The former vice president largely skirted questions about what should be done with those CIA officers who clearly went over the legal boundaries in their use of EITs. He did, however, gleefully take swipes at Obama and the Democratic Party, calling them soft on national security.

"I have serious doubts about his policies," Cheney said, "serious doubts about the extent to which he understands and is prepared to do what needs to be done to defend the nation."

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Comments

[Jyoti Naik]

Awesome Jesse Ventura video on Faux news :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DwFX57dNADs

[sorrowen]

BOY you people are hateful,raciest and all the above but that is all you have is hate and such its all you cling to it seems. Why hate the man so much he scares you doesn't he scares you like the little immature kids you are. Im afraid your nothing but a bunch far left haters hating away for the rest of your born days on a man that did nothing to you yet you hate him with passion. I think he is right and you are wrong and all you can do is be a cowerd and comment on some fringe left wing site. And another note BUSH was much Better then Obama plus he will be rememberd better in history he was more productive and kept our country safe. Obama will be rememberd as worse the carter as he has spent more money then any president ever has. But you'll hate him anyway because he gets under your skin the more he tlks also the more he talks the more Obama falls apart. He is above this type of hate shown on this immature site

[plsps]

No, No, most people understand both Bush and Cheney. We are not the hate filled, raciest, The money was spent by them and had to be covered so the nation could recover. If you believe like you do. you had better get your head out of the sand. Open your eyes and ears.

[neocon666]

In typical republican fashion, Cheney can dish it out, but he can't take it.

I would also like to add that I have seen multiple instances of committees tasked with selecting high level positions where the head of the committee tried to select themselves for the position. The response in every case was a resounding "NO!", in some cases resulting in the person being shown the door. George W. Bush allowing Dick Cheney to select himself as a VP candidate while heading the republican's VP selection committee underscore's his (Bush's) lack of judgement. Cheney aslo circumvented his own vetting process, which some prospects for the position even commented was so invasive that they felt that they needed a shower afterward (which makes you wonder if Cheney himself would have made it through).

[NotGuilty]

Right here is where the media goes wrong.

They report a crime in the headline, then make an excuse for the republican criminal in the next paragraph. Senator_____ is accused of _____, but he has been in the Senate for 18 years and says the reason for torture is because _____.

No, no, no, no.

Bullsh*t!

[Kevins]

Gouls really do sweat.

[jafsie]

Fut the shuck up, already. You AND your daughter.

[PatBurns]

I thought the HuffPost was going to stop doing stories on Darth until the headline finally reads: Cheney Arrested; or Cheney Convicted or Cheney Flees To Darfur To Escape The Law. This is supposed to be a democracy and no one's above the law, not even angry puppeteer VP's or mentally challenged presidents. They both need to pay for their crimes!

[jemborg]

Aww, my heart pumps pi*ss for Chaney.

[neocon666]

Isn't that what he has going through his veins?

[jemborg]

It's an old Aussie expression. Kind of like "I feel so sorry for him....NOT­!"

:)

[missouriwatcher]

Also, if Presidents KNOW that they will be held accountable for their actions, even after leaving office, it will make for a much more honest presidency in perpetuity.

[missouriwatcher]

Presidents have never sought to prosecute their predecessors because they are afraid that it will make for open season on themselves. If the Obama administration should actually follow through on this investigation and prosecute the upper echelon responsible, it would win my gratitude and respect. Chainy is one who deserves to be humbled, his former "boss" and some of their cohorts are others.

[dakotawoman]

Typo.

Meant: "CHENEY is beginning. . ."

[dakotawoman]

s beginning the long torment reserved for those who thought that they were home free after committing terrible, terrible deeds. He's busted. He's bound for his own private Nuremburg and I hope the ordeal is drawn out, grinding, excruciating and exacting in its complete and excoriating unfolding of his filthy soul.

And the Republican party with him. They embraced him, gave him power, ignored his malfeasances and ended up genuflecting to him. Now, just as Jesus drove the money changers outta the temple, the Democrats should make a clean sweep, hound out the criminals who attempted to usurp our Constitution, hound them out along with those who encouraged (or at least agreed with) the criminals in wrong-doing.

Cheney and his "people" and the Republicans who make excuses for him are all facing some universal facts of existence. Karma. Sowing what one has reaped. Live by the sword, die by it. Lie down with dogs, rise up with fleas. Create a gollum (monster) to fight for you, then have to fight the gollum when it turns its wrath back upon you.

Breaking the law in a misguided effort to enforce the law results in nothing but -- broken law.

[goswim12]

Very well said! America should seize this opportunity to make it impossible for self-serving narcissists like him to get anywhere NEAR the top. You need to remind them that they're public SERVANTS, not kids playing Risk with other peoples lives and money.
"One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors" (Plato)

[Buddy McCue]

I wish I had your faith.

As far as I can tell, most people DON'T get what they deserve.

[dakotawoman]

Cheney is beginning the long torment reserved for those who thought that they were home free after committing terrible, terrible deeds. He's busted. He's bound for his own private Nuremburg and I hope the ordeal is drawn out, grinding, excruciating and exacting in its complete and excoriating unfolding of his filthy soul.

And the Republican party with him. They embraced him, gave him power, ignored his malfeasances and ended up genuflecting to him. Now, just as Jesus drove the money changers outta the temple, the Democrats should make a clean sweep, hound out the criminals who attempted to usurp our Constitution, hound them out along with those who encouraged (or at least agreed with) the criminals in wrong-doing.

Cheney and his "people" and the Republicans who make excuses for him are all facing some universal facts of existence. Karma. Sowing what one has reaped. Live by the sword, die by it. Lie down with dogs, rise up with fleas. Create a gollum (monster) to fight for you, then have to fight the gollum when it turns its wrath back upon you.

Breaking the law in a misguided effort to enforce the law results in nothing but -- broken law.

[donttasemebro]

Cheney's argument: T0rture is OK because it works.
OK, robbing a bank works too, if you need money. Does that make it OK?

[willie9797]

Terrorism is also effective and necessary, just ask any terrorist

[willie9797]

Oh no, Cheney's offended. This has been always enough to stop the Democrats cold in their tracks. I hope the Republicans let us investigate, maybe if we're polite and promise not to prosecute anybody.