Actually, Mr. Cheney...

According to the AP, "Former Vice President Dick Cheney says it's time for President Barack Obama to "do what it takes to win" the war in Afghanistan and stop dithering while U.S. troops face danger. Cheney says signs of indecision endanger the troops and hurt the cause."

Actually, Mr. Cheney, what hurts troops is bad judgment--particularly when exercised by an overzealous, power-hungry, maniacal Vice President like you.

Yes, you should know about bad judgment since you used it when you relied on dead wrong intelligence provided to you by DCI George Tenet regarding WMD in Iraq. You had faith in a CIA that flatly failed to prevent the 9/11 attacks--a failure that was arguably the largest intelligence failure since Pearl Harbor.

Yet, in the days after 9/11 your WH decided to rely on CIA to provide you with information regarding WMD in Iraq. To me, that seems like bad judgment. Moreover, awarding former DCI George Tenet with a Medal of Freedom after he botched both 9/11 and WMD in Iraq, isn't just bad judgment, it's reckless delusion.

So, while some of your Republican friends may now attempt to place the blame for the war in Iraq on CIA, others know better.

And you have the audacity to criticize the current President for his "dithering" when it comes to Afghanistan and placing thousands of our troops' lives in danger; if only you showed a single pang at all when you skulked the halls of the Bush WH.

Imagine how even a momentary pause and (gasp) a modicum of actual intellectual debate/analysis might have changed the forgone outcome and conclusion of your reckless decision to go to war in Iraq, not to mention the feckless creation of your torture program.

Because if you want to really talk about placing American lives in danger for decades to come, then you should probably evaluate the very longterm, deadly effects of your torture program. Jihadists have long institutional memories, Mr. Cheney, and they'll wait patiently for years--even decades-- before exacting revenge and payback. Incidentally, where's the concrete proof that torture actually worked? I believe we are still waiting on that, Mr. Vice President.

Regarding torture and its obvious inefficacy, what do you have to say about the case of Ressam. Any comment on U.S. District Judge John Coughenour's opinion of your torture program and how it frustrated all attempts of gathering valuable information from Ressam, a known al-Qaeda operative who was directly linked to the 9/11 hijackers, in the days after 9/11? You will recall that Ressam was cooperating with US intelligence officials up until your friends arrived and started more aggressive techniques. Techniques that proved counter-productive since Ressam shut down in silence once your style of questioning started. Of course, delving into Ressam and the information gained from him by our intelligence community (particularly for the months preceding 9/11--when he talked freely and openly without torture) might prove a bit uncomfortable for you.

Look, Mr. Cheney, Iraq is your fault. And, sadly, Iraq will always be a catastrophic blemish on this country's history. But more to the point, your failed war in Iraq is the biggest reason that our troops are still fighting in Afghanistan.

Because had you kept your eye ably focused on the legitimate target, UBL, back in December 2001 and took him out when you had your chance in Tora Bora, our troops would most likely no longer be running amok in the mountains of Afghanistan.

Perhaps, instead of critiquing the current President who is left cleaning up your myriad messes and deadly debacles, why don't you explain why the Commander of CIA ops in eastern Afghanistan was denied the battalion he needed and requested back in December 2001? Were you and Rumsfeld, perhaps, "dithering" away too much, yourselves? Or was it something else entirely different that would explain why you let UBL escape?

So actually, Mr Cheney, maybe you should take some time to dither away, look in the mirror, and reflect upon the damage you've done to our country and, indeed, the world. Because, nearly nine years after 9/11, UBL is still alive, Afghanistan is still out of control, and Iraq is hardly a success. And for eight of those years, you, Sir, were in charge.

 

Comments

[Madame P]

Kristen - I have been wanting to meet you ever since I read your amazing book. I can't remember how many times I cried for you and your daughter and your husband. I work for an organization that was created because of your courage and pressure on the Hill and the idiotic Bush Administration to at least analyze what went wrong. I would like to get in touch with you to discuss your perspective and perhaps a speaking engagement to government personnel. Please let me know how I can reach you directly.

[realpolitic]

"Yes, you should know about bad judgment since you used it when you relied on dead wrong intelligence provided to you by DCI George Tenet regarding WMD in Iraq." No, Cheney manipulated the intelligence all along. It was manipulated with all caveats and dissenting opinion removed long before Bush saw it. How can a president make a decision to go to war against Iraq because of WMD just after he tells the CIA Director Tenet "Is that all you've got?" It is criminal what they did!

[S1m0n]

"There's light at the end of the tunnel" only matters if you've got tunnel vision.

[hip dibler]

Stong, strong woman. Cheney would wilt in front of her.

[mamalisa38]

Six months after 9/11, George W. Bush, on Bin Laden: "Deep in my heart I know the man is on the run, if he's alive at all. Who knows if he's hiding in some cave or not, we haven't heard from him in a long time."

"I don't know where he is. You know, I just don't spend that much time on him, to tell you the truth."

"I'll repeat what I said, I truly am not that concerned about him."

[Jamchinadian]

Excellent Post Ms. Breitweiser. The only point I would add is, despite their shortcomings, the CIA delivered a very clear memo "Bin Laden Determined to Strike in the United States" in August while Shrub was cutting Bush at Crawford.

In your Post to Shooter, it would have been good to remind him that the nominal President at the time, George W. Bush, reacted by telling the agents: Okay, you've covered your asses now so you can leave - words to that effect. How is that for beyond "dithering".

[Jude Nagurney Camwell]

Kristen, my head and my heart are with you all the way on this. I couldn't have said it better. If we were to put the narcissistic Mr. Cheney in a padded cell with a mirror, he'd likely continue to see his refection as some great figure that will go down in history as a patriot like a George Washington or a Thomas Jefferson. The problem for him is that history will betray the esteemed vision he holds of himself. The books and documents in the Library of Congress will always show the truth. He couldn't find a way to dismantle the Library of Congress as he did with the framework that protected so many of our civil liberties. History will show he was a liar who went down kicking and screaming because his willingness to take the United States down a wrong and perilous road was recognized by the majority of citizens in his own nation and by the entire civil world outside America's borders. What's saddest is that, if our country was attacked again, I firmly believe the man would feel happier in his vindication than sincerely supportive of our current President.

[ptarantino]

"why don't you explain why the Commander of CIA ops in eastern Afghanistan was denied the battalion he needed and requested back in December 2001? Were you and Rumsfeld, perhaps, "dithering" away too much, yourselves? Or was it something else entirely different that would explain why you let UBL escape?"


B-I-N-G-O

[viewfromuphere]

seconded.....

[dhfsfc]

Kristen--

You have a great grasp of the facts. I would like to see you debate Liz Cheney. You would wipe the floor with her.

What continues to infurate me is that Cheney was so busy spending his time meeting with oil company execs in the months leading up to 9/11, that he didn't bother to focus on national security. He should be tried as a traitor to the country.

[lafayette2009]

Wow! straight from the heart - one that was devastated on 9/11.

Thank you for sharing your justifiable anger.

[nk007]

Finally a fearless victim of the 9/11 debacle speaking truth to Cheney and his neo-conservative chicken hawks! Bush and Cheney had over 7 years to deal with Afghanistan, the country which sheltered the 9/11 attackers. Instead they took their eyes from that country and focused on Iraq. Now this cowardly chicken hawk Cheney has the audacity to attack a president who is trying to think through the wisdom and efficacy of sending more American young men and women to die for a country so deeply entrenched in corruption. Hey, Dick and Liz Cheney, do you have any of your relatives ready to go to Afghanistan to die for the triumph of American conservative ideology? When I was young, I remember that whenever we were boasting and pumping our chests about winning this or that, my grandfather, a practical man of few words, would always admonish us with the expression: "Talk Is Cheap!" I say the same to the Cheneys (Dick and Liz) and their silly, and self serving attacks on/criticism of, President Obama: "TALK IS CHEAP!" This is especially so for "the 5 deferments Dick Cheney," who, when he was the age of the same young people he is willing to send to die in war that has absolutely no clear objectives, opted out with five deferments.

[Cathleenrei03]

Excellent read. Thanks for the most accurate and honest account I have seen.

[GunneraGirl]

well that felt good to read! think i'll go back and do it again.

[anicca]

Are you sure that George Tenet provided Cheney with "dead wrong intelligence (dwi) "? More likely, he simply rubber stamped dwi that was provided by the vice president's office.

[mama4obama]

Wow! Kristen reached way back to deliver that slap!