Colin Powell: Dick Cheney Taking 'Cheap Shots' In Book (VIDEO)

(AP/The Huffington Post) WASHINGTON — Former Secretary of State Colin Powell is accusing former Vice President Dick Cheney of taking "cheap shots" at him and others in a new book.

Powell was the nation's top diplomat during the first four years of President George W. Bush's administration. Cheney's book, "In My Time," is set for release Tuesday.

Cheney writes that he thinks Powell tried to undermine Bush by criticizing administration policy to people outside the government.

Powell said during an appearance on CBS' "Face the Nation" on Sunday that he routinely gave his opinion and his best advice on issues to the president.

While Cheney writes that Powell's resignation was "for the best," Powell signaled he had always planned to leave the administration after the 2004 election. He suggested Cheney is almost condescending in his remarks about Powell's successor, Condoleezza Rice.

Last week, Cheney predicted "there are gonna be heads exploding all over Washington" upon the release of his book.

"That's quite a visual," Powell said of the former vice president's choice of words. "[It's] the kind of headline I would expect to come out of a gossip columnist or the kind of headline you might see one of the super market tabloids write. It's not the kind of headline I would have expected to come from one of the vice presidents of the United States of America."

He added, "I think Dick overshot the runway."

WATCH:

Comments

[Sharon3333]

02:30 PM on 09/01/2011

Chaney is getting his book out before we find out how many of the billions lost in Iraq went into the coffers of Halliburton, the company Chaney ran prior to his VP acceptance. I'll bet his CEO position continues to make him very, very rich. Gee, could it have something to do with why Chaney supported the invasion of Iraq so heavily? Duh!.

[Disketta]

06:10 PM on 08/31/2011

Imagine that Cheney thought telling the truth was "undermining." What does that say about the administration?

[wmnorton]

11:24 AM on 08/31/2011

Cheney should be known by the title he earned, "Chicken Hawk Cheney"

[molamark]

09:40 PM on 08/30/2011

I did answer twice didnt you get them try me again I promise to reply Was the question about presidential Militaru service . I have to admire daddy bush for his service I mean being shot down twice > He was also deciscive in the 1st gulf war and Panama when americans were abised by Noriega I would like to thinj that military service is agood pre req for presidency but I realize that more emotion and less reason em mil abn inf svn 197-=71 I respect you so be cool

[IWantTofu]

02:24 PM on 08/30/2011

A chicken hawk like Cheney is taking potshots at people who served fighting for this country like Powell and McCain. My suggestion is read about Cheney's book on posts such as this, but don't buy it.

[AyeChart]

12:43 PM on 08/30/2011

Based on my recollections and the data one can dig up, Cheney has it right and his critics--and those taking umbrage--have it wrong.  Powell was a poor pick as Secretary of State--though I initially thought it a wise choice!--and should have been fired when he was first found to be undermining the Bush policies and when he was found to have been covering up Richard Armitage's involvement in the Valerie Plame affair and letting others take the fall.

[bubbatech]

12:30 PM on 08/30/2011

Cheney is a guy that advocated torture. I think we can dismiss him as someone who might have an opinion that we should listen to.

[nicothebaker]

12:09 PM on 08/30/2011

Powell always comes out of hiding then will disappear from public view.

[lioness39]

11:57 AM on 08/30/2011

I always wished to be a fly on the wall during the years Powell was Secretary of State. Cheney and his absolute chicanery battling with a basically honest man. Oh how I wish Colin had just resigned and made it plain why he did so.

[JayDDrew]

12:26 AM on 08/31/2011

If Powell did come out and say what he thinks/knows, nine out of ten of us will respect him more. The other one out of ten will pull a Hannity and try to discredit him, which is what they tried to do when he endorsed Obama.
I think Powell's reputation would not be sullied if he came out and called Bush borderline incompetent and Cheney/Rumsfield/Wolfowitz/Bolton warmongers and chickenhawks.

[andwhatarmy]

10:29 AM on 08/31/2011

I totally agree. Good call.

[Sharon3333]

01:41 PM on 09/13/2011

Perfect call!

[Cayce58]

11:16 AM on 08/30/2011

To Luke McIntosh--The dems asked him to run for prez and he said he wasn't a democrat. Powell is the same as me, an Eisenhower repub, a man without a party.

[nowstopit]

09:17 AM on 08/30/2011

Cheney a bitter man.

[MissBrnSug]

11:45 AM on 08/30/2011

He is bitter because if the truth be known he made the majority of the decisions in the White House..........and never got credit.........he is STILL looking for his 2 mins of fame........your history dude.........bad history......get over it

[molamark]

05:12 PM on 08/30/2011

not long for this world

[potsiegb]

09:16 AM on 08/30/2011

Colin Powell was the only respectable man in the bush/cheney admin....

[Pat42911]

09:16 AM on 08/30/2011

When Colin Powell decided to be a Republican he made his first big mistake. When he hooked up with George W. Bush he made his second big mistake. It was all a downhill runaway of mistakes from there. Unfortunately for him, he won't live long enough to redeem his reputation. As for Cheney and Bush, it is too bad the media helps market their books. Better if they were left to wallow in quiet obscurity.

[k9school]

09:08 AM on 08/30/2011

Colin is the ORIGINAL RINO (republican in name only). Sure get tired of phony politicians .. wish we could clear the entire hill and just pur Average Hardworking Americans in charge.

[ranroddeb]

09:17 PM on 08/31/2011

If his mamma had spelled his name Colon it would have been closer to the truth which is actually attached to one end.

[Slangwhang]

09:07 AM on 08/30/2011

How could anyone trust Colin Powells opinion! He supported Barrack Obama. Look what that gave us Millions of Unemployed. Maybe he can go to Barrack and employ some of these people. Looking for the WMD's that never were!

[Sharon3333]

02:18 PM on 09/01/2011

You conveniently forget the crash of our country happened in 2008, including jobs, before President Obama stepped a foot into the White House. He'd been the one trying to clean up the mess. That's what I love about too many of my fellow Repubs, they have a memory of convenience and self serving, just like Chaney.

[Slangwhang]

12:41 PM on 09/11/2011

And you conveniently forget that Obama spent 4 Trillions Dollars to secure Teachers and Unions and 14 million unemployed later your still blaming G W Bush! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAAHHA....That ship left port 3 years ago! It's not even a current or valid EXCUSE!