Gibbs: Cheney Was The One Who Lost Focus On Afghanistan

The White House is hitting back once again at Dick Cheney, this time for remarks the former vice president made on Wednesday night in which he accused the president of "dithering" in his decision about whether to send more troops to Afghanistan.

"I think it is a curious comment," said spokesman Robert Gibbs, "given, I think it is pretty safe to say that the vice president was for seven years not focused on Afghanistan. Even more curious given the fact that an increase in troops sat on desks in this White House including the vice president's for more than eight months -- a resource request filled by President Obama in March."

"What Vice President Cheney calls dithering, President Obama calls his solemn responsibility to the men and women in uniform and the American public. I think we've all seen what happens when somebody doesn't take that responsibility serious."

The reply, which was anticipated, caps another partisan back and forth between the current administration and its predecessor's loudest voice. During a speech before the conservative national security group, the Center for Security Policy on Wednesday, Cheney insisted that "signals of indecision out of Washington" in terms of policy towards Afghanistan, "hurt our allies and embolden our adversaries."

"I find it interesting that he is blaming us for something he didn't see fit to do over, best I can tell, seven years of war in Afghanistan," Gibbs said.

Also on Thursday, retired General Paul Eaton, senior adviser to the National Security Network, issued a statement in which he declared: "The record is clear: Dick Cheney and the Bush administration were incompetent war fighters."

Comments

[billiej]

We have free speech in America. If the self-appointed leader of the Bush ‘Dead Enders’, who rejected the advise of his counter-terrorism ‘czar' to prepare for an Al Qaeda airborne attack on America (shortly after the warning delivered to Bush by Richard Clark, New York’s Twin Towers were destroyed by an Al Qaeda attack) and then, was rejected the advise of the White House’s Chief military advisor not to attack Iraq (after being told by Colin Powell ‘if you break it, you own it’, Cheney, et al, attacked and occupied Iraq & ignored Afghanistan, effectively losing two wars simultaneously for seven years, four months and nine days) - if such a person has the ability to make utterances, he can do so in America, because, in America, we have free speech. What one wonders about is the mental condition of those who listen ?

[lazercat2008]

I think his focus was more on Halliburton's profit margin.

[blizb]

I agree, he certainly wan't focused on solving anything.

I can't believe anyone still listens to him. I can't think of one positive thing that came out of the 8 years of the Bush/Cheney administration.

They made every wrong move from the beginning and now they want everyone to forget and restore their fantasy of a "wonderful legacy" that they left us.

They left us nothing.
No respect in the world, no stable economy, no economic growth or jobs, no advancements in education, no advancements in the environment, no advancements in peace, nothing. There is absolutely nothing they can claim as "mission accomplished" .

They fiddled while we burned and now Cheney makes an accusation of dithering which is outrageous. They were the ones who "dithered" because our economy and current situation is the living proof.

[Willow207]

And corporate profits for the members of PNAC, Plan for the New American Century......whose members on 911 included Dick Cheney, Paul Wolfowitz, Donald Rumsfeld, Jeb Bush and others. Corporate members included bin Laden construction coporation and Halliburton. The private equity group was represented globally by none other than George Sr.--salesman!

The "Gang of War Profiteering"

Lots of blood on the hands of PNAC!

[sachazg]

Obama is smart

[lazercat2008]

"After graduating with a Juris Doctor (J.D.) magna cum laude from Harvard in 1991"

[Okieborn]

Mr. Gibbs is exactly right, but President Obama had better think about the advice the American citizenry is giving !!
Bring Our Troops Home Save our Troops !
Save Our Economy !!
Listen to the very ones who are supplying the cash and troops sir !!!

[4real]

"The record is clear: Dick Cheney and the Bush administration were incompetent war fighters."

Enough said.

[RightOn5]

Gibbs is a snotty prep-school "peter-principal" in action....not to mention he ah-ah-um-eh stammers like the President.

[emlr]

I LOVE Robert. He's the least snarky, arrogant press secretary we've seen in 10 years!
The stammers are thought processes, something the previous WH spokespeople did not have.
Ari the Arrogant Fleisher was a disgrace and Dana was window dressing.

[keepemhonest]

ChainE- the perpetual W A R peddler.

[fredamae]

Think: Haliburton, KBR (rape, electrical deaths) Prison-Industrial Complex (chain-ee is Heavily invested, I am told) and OIL!

[Willow207]

Gibbs is a real class act, and does it with humor and humility. Got to love the guy!

[jan4insight]

Ditto!

[RightOn5]

ah ah ah Gibbs?

[IllinoisTexan43]

When you can't command a requisite following of trolls anymore, you're done.

[DoctorWhoDat]

If Cheney served in the military, he might have learned how to shoot a weapon.

[DnDCfromChi-town]

I will always be a fan of the "Gibster" for one of the greatest moments in television history!!!!



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zgn6rjGbp0c

[Mike Boldt]

Thanks for the link. I saw part of it when it aired, but it was great to see it in it's entirety. He was great, I really like how Gibbs didn't get rattled by Hannity's guilt by association tactic, but Sean didn't like when Gibbs turned the tables on him. Thanks again.

[DnDCfromChi-town]

very welcome, great tv

[centsable]

He's bbbaaaccckkkkkkkk!!!!!!!!!!

[One more Thing]

Why is Gibbs so nice to this cobra??

[NotGuilty]

Cheney's wallet is dripping. Blood.

[Hopeforu]

Cheney is as old as the word "dithers". GO AWAY WAR PROFITEER CHENEY!!!!!!!!! You are done and speak foolishness!