Dick Cheney: 'I Don't Pay A Lot Of Attention' To Obama

WASHINGTON -- Former Vice President Dick Cheney didn't mince his words on Sunday when describing his impression of President Barack Obama's response to the revelation of the extent of the U.S. government's domestic surveillance.

"I don't pay a lot of attention, frankly, to what Barack Obama says," Cheney said during an appearance on "Fox News Sunday." "I'm obviously not a fan of the incumbent president."

Both Cheney and Obama have defended the National Security Agency's surveillance activities as necessary to national security. But on Sunday, Cheney criticized the president's claim that the war on terror is nearing an end and suggested Obama needs to be more aggressive in defending those spying programs. He pointed to growing al Qaeda affiliates and other groups in North Africa as proof that a war is still underway.

"He's wrong. It's not winding down," Cheney said. "We have an important point where the president of the United States ought to say, 'This is a good program saving American lives and I support it.'"

Cheney also took a swipe at Obama on unrelated matters.

"The problem is the guy failed to be forthright and honest and credible on things like Benghazi and the IRS," he said.