Cheney: Obama policies raise risk of terror attack
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
Former Vice President Dick Cheney suggests President Obama is endangering the American people by reversing some of the Bush administration's anti-terror policies.
Cheney says some Obama choices raise the terror attack risk.
Speaking to CNN's John King, Cheney said harsh interrogations of terror suspects and the use of warrantless electronic surveillance were "absolutely essential" to get information that prevented more 9/11 like attacks.
He says Mr. Obama "is making some choices, that, in my mind, will, in fact raise the risk to the American people of another attack."
Since taking office, President Obama has announced plans to close the prison camp at Guantanamo Bay, to halt military trials of suspected terrorists there and to make CIA officers follow the Army field manual's rules on interrogations. Critics of the Bush administration have said the so-called "alternative" interrogation techniques amounted to torture; and that the warrantless wiretapping violated laws that were enacted after Watergate.
Meanwhile, a secret 2007 report by the Red Cross suggests treatment of al Qaeda captives constituted "torture." The report alleges detainees were routinely beaten, doused with cold water and slammed head-first into walls during interrogations. At other time, they were stripped of clothing, bombarded with loud music, exposed to cold temperatures, and deprived of sleep and food for days. Some captives say they were forced to stand for days with their arms shackled - wearing only diapers.
You may recall - the Bush White House repeatedly promised that the U.S. "does not torture"...
Here’s my question to you: Is former Vice President Dick Cheney right that Pres. Obama's policies "raise the risk" of a terror attack in the U.S.?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
I. writes:
Cheney is a power-hungry, myopic zealot who wouldn't know the truth if it came up and bit him. Personally I wouldn't believe him if his tongue came notarized, or if he was given truth serum and connected to a lie detector!
Diane writes:
We probably lowered the risk of attack several notches since Obama took office. The terrorists do not have Gitmo or the use of torture to use against us for their public relations ammo like they did during the Bush era.
Bob from Louisville, Kentucky writes:
Why would anybody believe a thing this guy has to say after his proclamation that when we invaded Iraq we would be treated to parades with people strewing rose petals? He should never be featured in the media again unless it is when they carry him off to the pen in handcuffs.
J.O. writes:
Quite the converse. It strikes me that Dick Cheney's comments are, in effect, an invitation to the terrorists to attack. He is still trying to be the bully. President Obama's civil approach to the world's problems will reduce the likelihood of future attacks.
Mike writes:
I don't know if V.P. Vader is right or not; I'm not that smart. What I do know is that to take liberty and freedom away from anybody in the name of "security" is un-American… It is time for us to be Americans again and understand that freedom comes with a price and that price is risk.
Dana writes:
No, he's not right. He hasn't been right about anything over the years. Worse, it's not that he's incorrect – it's that he's lying! The media should be ignoring this man. He's now become irrelevant.
Judi writes:
I thought "24" was just a TV show on FOX, not a reality program. Dick Cheney is scarier than Jack Bauer.
@jackcafferty on Twitter
Considering the source his only concern is that Haliburton won't get any more no bid constracts. After taking credit for no home attacks since 9/11 he has to take responsibility for 9/11. And our retaliatory ability is gone thanks to the invasion of Iraq. Also our ability to deal with natural disasters and the limited availability of the National Guard for this purpose. Cheney has no credibility and the media shouldn't be giving him a platform.
The actions or inactions of former Vice President Dick Cheney and his fellow Republicans have already helped launch a new type of “terror attacks” in the U.S.
We live in daily fear that our 401k retirement accounts will evaporate, our bank will make the failure list on the evening news, our boss will hand out pink slips, someone in our family will get sick and not have insurance or money to pay bills.
“Terrorists” don’t scare me anymore, they have to wait in line behind my boss, my banker, my doctor and my grocer.
Thank God, President Obama is dealing with these real “terrorists” first.
There will be another terrorist attack on the United States, especially since our foreign policy under both Democratic and Republican presidents has long been based on uncritical support for Israel and propping up authoritarian regimes like Saudi Arabia. It's a good thing that both Bush and Cheney are gone, because under those guys, the inevitable next terrorist attack would have been followed by an authoritarian regime right here in the USA.
You bet VP Cheney is right. If we get hit again we will know who to blame – Obama. And you know we will deserve it for electing a lawyer instead of a leader and a community organizer instead of an experienced individual that puts politics above our personal safety.
Jack,
Dick Chenney and George Bush did more to harm to this country then al-qaeda ever will. The changes Obama has made will make no difference in the % chance of another attack.
If President Obama thinks he can use his speech abilities to entice Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, North Korea, etc., into falling in love with him and becoming a fan like half of America did, then I do believe Cheney is right to say what he did. And I am not a Repub. All people, no matter what land they live in, must be able to confront what is there and see it for what it is. There are governments who want to see America and Israel cease to exist. I think that should be confronted, not smiled at with the idea you can be nice to them and they'll then like us back. That's plain crazy thinking and can only come from those who have their own reality show going on behind those eyelids. It's time that all the news media quits trying to play Dems against Repubs and vice versa. That is a destructive road and I'm sure they realize that. Divided we fall. Together we stand tall and proud and live to see another generation live as Americans were meant to be able to live.
Jack, Anybody (like the President) who is in favor of bringing "admitted" 9-11 terrorists to this country for "due process" can't be playing with a full deck. While the ACLU would like nothing better than to see these Muslim Terrorists get a good old fashioned American trial by jury, they should have been given a good old fashioned firing squad at gitmo years ago. Obama is clueless when it comes to protecting us.
NO, If the enemy wants to attack us at any time they can because we are wide open and no money, no number of people or torture of people will stop them. Our boarders and our coast lines are too big to cover properly. The only fear that the enemy will have is our response to a attack, Bush's response was the wrong country for the wrong reason(oil) and the wrong enemy for 9/11, so the enemy who attacked us did not learn the right lesson. we can hope Obama will get it right on his watch.
Is former Vice President Dick Cheney right that Pres. Obama’s policies “raise the risk” of a terror attack in the U.S.?
Dick Cheney was full of crap as VP and is full of crap as former VP.
We are no longer being led by the GW Bush administration of LEADERSHIP BY FEAR we are now being led by the Obama administration of HOPE.
We know that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself!
Obama is doing an incredible job and the GOP just can’t get over it.
Jenna
Roseville CA
We should listen to our former Vice President about our security issues.... wait.... wasn't he the vice president to one of the worst presidents in US history? Nevermind.
It's kind of funny that Mr. Cheney thinks we are somehow "less safe" because Obama was elected president. If anything, the Bush administration showed us what "unsafe" means. I'm sick and tired of hearing people say that Bush "kept us safe" after 9/11. How did the lack of response after Hurricane Katrina make you feel safer? How did Bush's "anti-foreigner" foreign policy and polarizing ideology in our OWN country make you feel safer?
At the very least, President Obama is trying.
Jeremy, PA
How foolish some of the writers are here. US was not attacked because Bush/Cheney were in office, but because the attackers hate this country and there are many more waiting their turn to attack. Where Americans live to live, those terrorists live to die for their beliefs. We will be attacked again, even with Smiley Obama in office.
Is former Vice President Dick Cheney right that Pres. Obama’s policies “raise the risk” of a terror attack in the U.S.?
Certainly not...no more than his and W's did. This guy needs to go home.
I was in Vietnam when Cheney was taking his 5 deferments and trying to
become a millionaire. I want his opinion on defense about as much as
I want Bernie Madoff's advice on investing.
It is hard to think of an American admininstration that has hurt American security more than that of the Bush/Cheney administration. Ignoring input from the Clinton administration regarding Bin Laden, entrusting the fight in Afghanistan to local warlords, entering into a war in Iraq under false pretenses, creating "Al Qaeda in Iraq", giving the world the impression we were against the Arab/Muslim world rather than the extremist world, ignoring personal rights, overlooking the excesses of the banking world and Wall Street, .....
What world does Dick Cheney live in? I noticed he said he was not watching the news as often as he used to. Wow, I wonder why?
Cheney was muted during his tenure in office, if he want a place in Obama`s cabinet, let him tell the whole America. To others who are accusing Obama for the statement on the "fundamentals of the economy" McCain was wrong when he said it, because, he was unable to understand the concept. When Obama said the economy will pass through hard times before it`ll turn arround, people were complaining. From all the network cnn inclusive. But, now, he`s trying to bring hope to the nation and here we are again complaining. I tell you Obama`s honey moon is still on because we won`t give a break and let him do his job. Let the media and press be consistent.
The biggest risk we faced was when Cheney was in office. He would have involved us in a much broader war if he could have and don't forget, over 4,000 American lives have been needlessly lost in Iraq because of his lies.
He has no credibility, just like Limbaugh!!
Cheney on Torture
Well Cheney has been right about so many things, let's see. He ignored Dick clark and CIA warnings that Al Qaeda was planning a major attack. He was wrong about Iraq ordering yellow cake from Kenya. The stories he planted at the CIA about Iraq having WMDs was wrong. He was wrong about Iraq's oil paying for the invasion of that country. His story about Sadam Hussein being in cahoots with Bin Ladin was wrong. He was wrong about global warming and the need to ween ourselves from middle eastern oil. So how could he possibly be wrong about this too?
Apparently he thinks that our going it alone in the war on terror has accomplished so much that restoring our tarnished reputation re: torture, and perhaps gaining some additional international support from the renewal of respect we once enjoyed is a bad idea.
no. and why isnt cheney being waterboarded for the war crimes he's committed and will never admit to, any other way.as a matter of fact, we ought to be waterboarding that entire administration just for the hell of it!
I wonder how people of US are going to believe the man “ former Vice president Dick Cheney” who's administration went for the war on the basis of a “white lie” and killed hundreds and thousands of innocent people.
The so called war ON terror, “which I call war OF terror” left the countries in deep devastation and damaged the image of “U.S” as a super power throughout the globe. Whole world welcomed the change in Washington, now; when it is time to of follow the change, to win the hearts and minds of the victims of Bush administration and rebuilding the trust. But unfortunately Mr. Cheney is still out there with irrational comments, to damage the change as well as the second chance world is offering to the US to lead.
I though Cheney's administration run was OVER! Why is he still getting air time? Maybe he thinks if he gets enough air time that he might get some kind of a bonus from AIG. Looks like just the kind of talent they are looking for.
how can CNN hold an interview with this criminal? He talks like Nixon that anything the president does is legal. He is a shifty politician even be considered to hold any opinion?
We have to pursue charges against him and Bush.
He is wrong about Obama – what was his approval rating when he left?
Don't have these unimportant has-been politicians on again. They have no good comments and are not for the country just for their own gain – the oil companies.
Who cares what the former Vice President thinks? Never has so much been heard from those who lost. Remember how the American people sang "hey, hey, hey, Goodbye" to the Bush-Cheney Administration? Enough already!
Just what we need–hunting lessons from Dick Cheney.
All I can say is apparently Mr Cheney never heard of "LIVE FREE OR DIE", or "GIVE ME LIBERTY OR GIVE ME DEATH".
Mr. Cheney lost that right long ago after he conveniently violated basic human rights himself. wiretapping innocent, everyday people in our country while he befriends terrorist groups that made him a rich man? i can't wait to see what he says about national security when his bank transactions are revealed with money pouring in from the most notorious people in the Middle East. his engagement threatened our national security...
our president should handle this with great prudence as we don't want to prosecute the innocent people yet sending some terrorists back to Saudi Arabia where they will go right back to the terrorist missions. why are we still this friendly to the most terrorized country in Middle East – Saudi Arabia? O-I-L! this will only complicate our national security and possibly give more yielding in circumstances we cannot waiver...
from OC, CA 🙂
Dick Cheney has incited more hatred of America than Obama could possibly begin to instill in our enemies. We have Cheney and his policies of torture to thank for our poor esteem in the world, and we cannot gain the respect of those for whom we show no respect.
Who cares what Cheney thinks? We validate him still by giving him this airtime and commenting on it. He's the ex-vice president and in my mind many of our problems today are remnants of his regime.
No. In fact I believe just the opposite. It the Bush/Chaney policies of "torture while lying about it" that surely created more hate for us. The torturers and those who ordered them must be punished.
Invading and occupying Iraq was the best recruitment tool that Al Qaeda could have ever hoped for–so when that man talks all I here is blah, blah, blah.
If Obama's policies raise the risk of another attack then so be it.
If the only way we can prevent another 911 is to be as bad as our enemies then we deserve to be attacked.
Right after 911 I sad that if we stoooped to the level of the terrorist, then they have won. Under Bush and Cheney, they won without an additonal attack. They violated every core value that this country has stood for and made us less of a nation even if while were relatively safe.
Dick Cheney needs to sit down and shut up.They had their eight years and look where it got us.
It is utterly appalling that anyone will still give Dick Cheney, the benefit of the doubt. This social senelity and amnesia has reached a credenco with every stroke of political news coverage that gets pumped thru the TV, radio...or even the Cafferty File. If we REALLY want change, let's begin by turning our backs on those that led us in the wrong direction and focus our collective attention on the one that has carved a new road. This is tautologically simple, Dick Cheney is to political advice what Kramer and Madoff are to the Investment Management.
America was not attacked from 1941 t0 2001, Bush and Cheney did a great job, they prevented an attack for 8 months and Cheney says Obama should follow them. Thank God Bush and Cheney are no longer in char
Jack,
If Bush and Chaney were so great and right on their policy, why they never gotten close to catch the mastermind of the 911 that kills thousands of innocent people in our land? Chaney also said that he has the idea where Bin Ladan is hiding, hey, now he got nothing better to do, I would pack him a lunch bag and send him out to catch Bin Ladan...Dick, are you serious? How could you continue to fool and insult the intellient of American people? Remember, you have ruined your grandchildren's future as well...
Enhanced interrogation and on a larger scale inhumane treatment of combatants is the number 1 reason a new terrorist is born. We should all send Dick Cheney an "it's a boy" cigar as he is the father.
Hey Jack-
personally i think cheney is trying to do what his administration had been trying to do. And for that matter, the Republican party as a whole has been attempting to use fear as a means of control since 9/11. Criticism of Obama's policies typically result in a doomsday scenario where the world is destroyed and terrorism runs rampant. Cheney is right in what he is saying, but he is saying it about a policy 4 years to late.
Dick Cheaney is absolutely right! Just ask the parents of the soldiers that were killed in the USS Cole attacks! I think people need to step back and take a look at the enemies we are fighting. Why is it that we never hear anyone condeming the savages that behead american soldiers and kill innocent women and children?!?
Cheney is still in bed with fantasy of the past that dragged the country closer to bankruptcy. He carved some of othe policies that plummeted the economy, and he finds it difficult to disengage eventhough those policies are proven today to be wrong. However, Obama must be mindful that it is not who is kind that terrorist hold back their devilish acts.
No, Cheney is dead wrong. The policies of the Bush admin. are what made us less safe.
Let's not forget that even bin Laden doesn't know how to deal with President Obama now that he cannot use Gitmo and ongoing US torture as a rallying point for anti-American sentiment and terrorist recruitment.
I think what Mr Cheney doesn't quite "get" is that by treating detainees like animals we are fueling their cause! Another reason for Al Qaeda to object to the 'western' way of life, I mean we don't even treat them like humans. I would detest us too. I think Obama's approach is that of mutual respect, you attract more flies with honey than you do vinegar Mr Cheney.
What is he talking about the one million profiled Americans that the FBI placed under surveillance? Gee, I read where there were 16 people under surveillance prior to 911. We either have been misled or we have lost our war to keep America safe from Big Brother. I can't wait for Obama to bring our country back in line with the constitution. I am not sure he will do it with Gates or Mueller. Did anyone listen to Russell Tice? Are we safer? Were we ever safe? If safer means we lose our freedoms here at home then I will take my chances. I am waiting for Obama to drop the bomb on the Patriot Act. Then I will feel safe.
In my opinion former vice pres Dick Cheney was a terrorist attack on the US during the Bush Admin====
Adhering to a firm and fixed high code of ethical behaviour lowers your risks of being attacked. Violating humanitarian ethical codes increases your risks of being attacked, as by terrorists. Lowering your risks of attack lie in improving your body of intelligence information through conventional means of collecting such information. When you violate good ethical codes of behaviour you cause a corruption of your own standards of behaviour and encourage harm to your own forces. I do not oppose sound and comprehensive information gathering, but I do oppose as counterproductive the exercise of violence in the course of information gathering as the method of intelligence gathering.
It was Cheney's mind that fabricated the ellusive WMD's and led us to war, we should be fed up with his doomsday predictions that slowly remove our rights as Americans and human beings.
Jack,
How can Cheney "Mr. 5 deferments" express an opinion on a possible
attack?? He never wore the uniform of this country, in fact, he dodged
military service so in my eyes he is NOT an expert. Anyone can look
at what happened and can figure out that we will NEVER let this happen again. Let's face it he is IRRELEVANT and should NOT have
been interviewed by CNN, I don't think the majority of "WE" Americans
care what he has to say.
Ron – Florida
From Brighton CO.
DIck Cheney did nothing but LIE to the American people, disembowel the CIA, hide out and play Bush like fiddle. I think he needs to stay out of the public eye. He wanted this "war" more anything and did what he could to create puppets to lie for him while they took the fall. I don't believe one word that comes out of his mouth. He and Bushneed to be charged with war crimes.
Marylice C
Dick Cheney is so out of touch with reality and what constitutes "American Values" , as to be laughable.. He facilitated the biggest give away of money to his cronies in American History, The fact that he is not on trial now is a true shame.
Phil
Kennesaw GA
NO!!! Dick Cheney is the epitome of arrogance he thinks his opinions carry more weight than the fact. He is going around trying to revise history
Ronn from Waldport, Oregon
9/11 happened on Bush's watch, why did he got keep us safe?
I'm sorry Mr. Cheney you are incorrect. It is because of the anti-terror measures that the Bush Administration pursued that there is so much built-up anger and hatred towards the U.S. throughout the world. With President Obama's reversal of these tactics, that not only conflicted with our values but diminished our standing in the world, the U.S. is in fact more safe now than before he rescinded these cruel and un-American actions.
All of what Obama is doing will decrease the risk. Everything that Cheney and his puppet Bush did are responsible for the continuing terrorist problems. We can all look forward to better days with the new president.
Jack – Dick Cheney says almost nothing for 8 years, falls asleep during cabinet meetings, and now he is an expert in world security? Someone please open the trap door in the floor so he drops out of sight... forever!
Dan Bednarik, Ph.D.
Highland, Maryland
Any country that treats people the way that Bush/Cheney did deserves to be destroyed. It is pretty obvious that such behavior increases, not decreases, the chance of our being attacked. Any "intelligence" obtained in this manner could not possibly offset the damage done by this behavior. Obama has again made us a country that deserves existence.
Jim, Craig, CO
Jack, I think Cheney is absolutely correct. Obama has done nothing but backtrack on the former Bush policies. I'm sure our enemies can tell that this administration does not have the backbone nor stomach to fight. Obama has weakened our nation and he and the rest of his left wing wack jobs are the last people I would want to count on in a fight.
Absolutely not! America will be safer under Obama than under the Bush administration. Bush/Cheney policies have fueled an entirely new generation of America haters. If they hated us enough to commit 9/11 before Bush, imagine how they feel about us having concrete evidence of the evil deeds we do and the hypocricy of it all. At least other dictators tell people how brutal they are. We condemn torture and then practice it behind closed doors.
You intentionally read the Cheney quotes and the Red Cross report together on the air just now to imply that Cheney was specifically approving each of the activities the Red Cross report alleged. Let me tell you that the U.S. Military did not do those things in Gitmo, and yet you imply they did, and that Cheney specifically approved these activities. This is yellow jounalism, and you should be ashamed of yourself. You know exactly what you are attempting to do. And your pretentious, self-congratulatory, anti-military tone is disgusting.
Please read this comment on the air in whole.
Jack,
Obama's new policies do not "raise the risk" of terrorist attacks. This is nothing more than a politician criticizing the opposing party...
Chris LaFreniere
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Cheney is right.
No, A Big no. Nothing will surpass the first big terror attack – Dick Cheney as Vice President. We will, however, face further threats and that had been caused by Dick Cheney and his supposed "Boss" George W forgetting who attacked us on 9-11. Did they finish the job in Afghanistan – NO; Did they have to invade Iraq, a barrier to Iranian expansion – NO!
So, We are in good hands with Barack Obama. We weren't with Dick and George.
Cheney? Has he ever lied to us before? Weapons of mass destruction, Saddam Hussein and Osama Bin Laden tag-team, purchase of enriched uranium in Niger, the enemy is in 'its last throes'(was that in 2005?), etc etc etc. Hard to believe a Vice President could be so right!!!
Dick Cheney lives in different world than everyone else. Does he not get it that no ones believes anything he says any more? The Iraq war was created to benefit Halliburton(his company) He should go away and leave us alone(Take Bill Bennett with him)
Terror Terror Terror. I have a local terrorist that "own the corner" of my street. I'm not worried about terror. Terror lives on my street.
The threat of terrorist attack from Dick Cheney is suspicious. News media commentators have stated that the Republicans would want another terrorist attack during a Democratic administration so they can claim they kept the country safe, even though a major attack took place during the Bush era. They want to co-opt and leverage any disaster politically without concern for life and property as they did after 9/11.
Even if Cheney is not directly engaged in tacit treason with Al Qaeda, (which I wouldn't put past him,) he is sending a signal to the world that now is the time. The rational and mature approaches to the Middle East from the Obama administration and Secretary of State Hilary Clinton, no doubt angers and scares terrorist leaders and those who directly or indirectly give them aid and comfort, such as Dick Cheney.
Mr. Cheney's remarks demonstrate, without ambiguity, that the paranoia that has dominated US politics since the Joe McCarthy era is still alive and well. The issue is not whether we are more or less vulnerable than two months ago, but whether we as a nation stand up for the values we claim to believe in.
No Jack, it raises the risk of respecting your neighbor and honoring the rule of 'treat others as you would want to be treated'. What a concept...gain respect instead of instill fear! We should have faith that our enemies will respect this decision and thus pave the road to peace.
Some of you people just don't get it! If you think that you can just "ask" these terrorists "what's-up" and get information you are clueless. I have not seen us behead anyone-yet! The old thought that if we torture were no better than they are does not hold water-never has.
This guy has been wrong 100% of the time. Why would we assume it to be any different this time. He is a poster child for not overlooking the crimes of previous administrations.
Why do people wring their hands and decry the treatment of Al-Queda and Taliban suspect captured on battefields yet no one investigates the treatment of some American citizens who are in U.S. prisons? I really have no concern about the treatment people who would eagerly kill me and my entire family because I have a different religion. These are the same people who murder men, women, and children who didn't live according to their religous standards. They're not worth my empathy.
Jack,
I find it beyond offensive that a man who did not serve would have the audacity to think he should have any say on how prisoners of war are treated.
Because of Bush/Cheney war policies we have lost our moral high ground when it comes to facing other countries who violate human rights. Bush and Cheney should be held accountable and put in jail for the war criminals they are.
Fighting terrorists is not a job for an army it is a job for gatherers of intelligence and special operations. So many lives could have been saved if we had used intelligence and special ops to go after Al Qaida instead of throwing the world into such chaos that now the terrorists have achieved exactly what they were after, the financial ruin of the West.
Luwanna Guysville Ohio
why didn't CNN citizen's arrest Darth Cheney ,while they had him in a 'cuffable' position? it would have made a great practice run , in case rove or bush himself stop by CNN to lie to the american people.
Evil behavior is obviously not confined to national boundaries and it ALWAYS produces evil results. I applaud President Obama's efforts to protect us from participating in torturous, evil behavior.
Jack,
The glorification of policies either economic, or protective, in the Obama administration by the media, allows mainstream issues that affect the viability of our nation on a global scale to be overlooked. Unfortunately the act of garnering attention to an issue, does not alone provide, or implement a solution.
I think former vice-president needs to remember that he is no longer in office. If the torcher victims told the interrogater what that person wanted to hear from the start, they would not have been torchered. Whether the torcher would have continued would still be up to the interrogater not the victim.
If it wasn't for Cheney over 4000 US soldiers and over 150,000 Iraqui civilians would still be alive. In my opinion he is the mastermind of all the damage the Bush administration left behind. Bush is too clueless to orchestrate such evil. Oh by the way, we are much safer under pres. Obama, as both sensible and tough diplomacy are being implemented right now.
You know Jack,I guess he's still upset he shot his own friend. That there is torture in itself!
Former Vice-President Chaney is correct in his statement concerning an increased risk of attack by terrorist organizations.
Kentucky
If AIG had failed how would they have been able to pay these outrageous bonuses. Since when did employment contracts become first line creditors? How can you pay an employment contract for performance for a failure to perform, Seems to me that AIG should claim a breach of contract when these are the very people who cause their downfall. If poor performance isn't a reason tor a breach of contract, then I suggest that AIG needs new lawyers and needs to re-write their employment contracts. If these contracts are designed to attract the best and brightest, then who did AIG hire, because they are insolvent with our help!
Dick Chaney has never been right. Why would he be right now?
It is utterly appalling that anyone will still give Dick Cheney, the benefit of the doubt. This social senelity and amnesia has reached a crecendo–with every stroke of political news coverage that gets pumped thru the TV, radio…or even the Cafferty File. If we REALLY want change, let’s begin by turning our backs on those that led us in the wrong direction and focus our collective attention on the one that has carved a new road. This is tautologically simple, Dick Cheney is to political advice what Madoff is to sound and honest investment management advice.
Are you kidding me! dick cheney still doesn't get it. Even our enemies see Barack Obama as somebody they can open up dialogue with.
We're a LOT safe now since we don't have Bush & Cheney running around loose on the planet stealing natural resources from other countries and spreading hate, fear and war!
DUH!
Cheney & his mob have done everything they could to destroy international relations that helped keep us safe and has done more than his part to alienate the rest of the world from us. He's got no room to talk.
And how about Cheney going back into hiding until the day of his trial?
The American public should not listen to this corrupt and self serving war criminal
Half the country agrees with Bush and the other half agrees with Obama. Maybe we need 2 USA's, one United States of Capitalism and one the United States of Democracy.
Andy – Boise, ID
Jack, are we more safer today or during the previous administration? well lets see, no more torture, illegal wire tapping and ending a war where the people don't want us there, I'm not a terrorist but I feel safer... p.s. can we check out library books without the government looking over our shoulder?
If it weren't for the seemingly probability that this administration lied every time they opened thier collective mouths they mighht have a position to speak from. As it is, I personally view them as being irrevelant.bill
Absolutely not. The world’s perception of the United States is improved just by the word Democrat. The likelihood of having a terrorist attack, in a country controlled by someone who actually cares what the rest of the world thinks, is unlikely.
John MaCain was tortured during the viet nam war and he is against torture. that should seal the debate. what does Cheney know of torture? was he ever tortured- hell he never even served. Also maCain never gave out info even when he was tortured. So that should nail cheney's lie.
It is probably about the same although I hope that not torturing someones relatives might be plus. Remember that everyone wants to be free and Dick certainly never cared about that. Maybe he should just go away.
Hi Jack,
Dick Chaney has a perfect record of being WRONG about everything else. Why do you think he would mess that up now?
What would Dick Cheney know about the needs of the military. He used 4 student deferments, and then a paternity deferment to avoid serving his country when he was eligible and capable.
I don't think Obamas policy's make a another terrorist attack more likely, but Cheney/Bush being out of office does Decreases the chance.
Raaaaa, Raaaaaa,Raaaaaa, The Penguin speaks!
(all he's missing is his top hat and cigarette holder.......)
Question: Am I crazy? Answer: No... Dick Cheney has about as much business telling Barack Obama about how to succeed in a war against terrorism as the captain of the Titanic does instructing us on how to safely navigate iceberg hazards in the North Atlantic......
Regards,
C.
I'm a former US Infantry Marine. The insergents use any means necessary to extract information from their prisoners all the way up to decapitation. Nothing i herd you say in the red cross report came any where close to that extreme. I feel that they are making it less of a threat to the insergents to carry out this war and bring it to us.
I think the United States would be better off had the intel services closely monitored the activities of Cheney and Bush. The ones crying "Danger! Danger!" were in fact the most dangerous ones.
Maybe Dick Cheney should be spending more time worrying about an International Criminal Court indictment against him for war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Tom
Traverse City, Michigan
Former V.P. Cheney's regime of fear and blatant disregard for legally obtaining warrants for wiretaps and searches is finally over. This is a country based on laws, when we trade our security for the ability to operate a shadow state much like the Nazi S.S. in WW2 for the convenience of obtaining information, then we have truly lost the war on terrorism.
This guy should have a long handle bar mustache and be name dick dasterly–why and how does a crook keep peoples attention? Everything,everyone he touches either makes money through his ability to funnel opportunities or they're the bad guys or broke–he's a king of fear monger and a capitalizes on it at every opportunity and without a gun he's still dangerous.
Jack, this Cheney guy should remove himself from the American scene. Here's the fellow who had death squads all across the Middle-East putting hits on citizens whom Cheney's office deemed to be terrorists or terrorist sympathizers. This is well documented on various sites on the web. These squads were answerable directly to his office. He's a class act in the worse sort of way.
Simply put, based on experience and history, we should seek Mr. Cheney and Mr. Bush's opinions, and then do precisely the opposite. Were we to have done that during their tenure, with everything they advocated, everyone they appointed or nominated, and every decision they made, we would all have been a lot better off.
It's quite amusing that Cheney would make such a declaration.
The only terrorist attack that took place during his administration was the one he himself, coupled with his charming puppet conducted.
There need's to be an investigation conducted on these men, as well as numerous members of wall st. along with the man who owned the towers and collected massive amounts of insurance money from the "terrorist attack"
Unfortunately, former VP Cheney is using the same scare tactics that he used to manipilate our involvement in Iraq. In the process, resources were diverted from Afghanistan, the real source and primary base for terrorists including Al Queda.
Niel Carey
Maryland
Cheney-Cheney-Cheney!!! Cheney would not make a pimple on my rear side and I'm border line stupid. But given that, I'm smart enough to know that if I could buy Cheney for what he really knows and sell him for what he thinks he knows I would be rolling in the cash! He had his chance and blew it . He needs to just fade away. (eight years ago)
I find it ironic that all of a sudden he's worried about raising the risk when he and his buddies were running around the world bombing the crap out of everything. Somehow I think that killing a bunch of innocent people is going to raise the risk of terror more than a man who actually wants to talk things out.
Since he was born "Richard", I would imagine that his thoughts and actions in the far past earned him the name "Dick". I see he is still deserving of his nickname.
Cheney de Sade is a psychopath. If there is another attack, I will still blame Bush and Cheney for creating the environment to cause it. The man is insane and scares me more than the so called terrorists. He needs a lobotomy or life in prison without parole or both.
The president and vice-president swear to uphold the Constitution, not keep us safe from terror attacks. When our elected officials violate the Constitution, as was done in the Bush administration, we have more to fear than a terrorist attack. Terrorists are successful when we do not follow our principles and when we spend ourselves into debt waging unneccesary wars. Thank goodness these policies are being changed. Sara, FL
Jack,
If I remember correctly, Dick Cheney was thrown out of college because he didn't like the way they ran things. Why should I be bothered by anything he says?
John
The terrorists' most lethal tool has been the propagation of fear in the American public. Dick Cheney has been complicit with this promotion of fear. He has allowed his country to be paralyzed in its progress due to the threat of another attack. The country has fallen to its knees in obsession with their safety, keeping their eyes off the ball of the economy, the environment, torture and political victimization.
I think Obama would benefit from Cheney's advise. After all, the last Administration kept our country safe for 8 years. No one on September 12,2001 would have believed that was possible. It's about time, we thank George Bush and Dick Cheney.
Obviously, those terrorist-loving socialists at the Red Cross will do anything to destroy America.
As to Mr. Cheney, perhaps he retire to an undisclosed location and stay there.
Cheney didn't get a blanket pardon or any kind of a pardon from Bush. So yes, I am sure Cheney is terrified, when it comes to where Obama's policies might lead.
Harry,
Ky.
No, Cheney is wrong on his criticism of President Obama. I just loved in the interview how Mr. Cheney said "There is no prospect that Iraq will return to producing weapons of mass destruction."
Hello, Dick, didn't you get that memo? Iraq NEVER had any WMDs. That's why we shouldn't have been in Iraq in the first place back when he was Vice President. That was when there were risks in America's safety.
In my opinion no, if we torture people they will be more likely to attack America because we are not following the international rules set up at the Geneva convention. Would you seek revenge or hate them if you were tortured? Allowing torture would just give them another excuse to attack us.
There were 25 candidates who were listed on the exploratory committee list and/or announced bid list for the office of the President. Barak Obama was elected our Commander-in-Chief. I assume it was because he could keep our country secure from our enemies and bring our country out of the danger of the threat of a depression.
I don’t think Obamas policy’s make a another terrorist attack more likely, but Cheney/Bush being out of office does Decreases the chance.
No, Torture only gives you the answers you want to hear. I'm willing to bet that strapping Cheney in to be water boarded would have him confessing that Obama was 10 times the President Bush ever was before the water was even dropped.
If i'm not mistaken most of these enemy combatants have not been found guilty of anything because they were held without trial. How can America be great when we hold people without trial and make them say what we want to hear.
Jack, Cheney is WRONG...He couldn't BE more wrong....
Cheney has lied and manipulated this country into breaking the Geneva Conventions, usurping the constitution and torturing hundreds, not just one or two, HUNDREDS of men and boys (according to Amnesty International, the oldest prisoner in Gitmo was 98, the youngest, 13).
Obama is now forced to spend valuable time doing damage control...We have more enemies now than we did in 200; Certainly more than we did after 9/11 and Obama MUST show the world we do have a moral compass and a respect for humanity.
We, as a country, are responsible for what our government does in our name. if we allow Cheney or Bush, for that matter to get by with this, we are approving of this behavior across the board. It is now OK for people to do this to us; to our soldier and to our citizens...We have lost our moral compass.
As a past supporter of H. W. Bush – and Cheney in his role in the administration – I find VP Cheney's latest comments regarding President Obama's actions opening the door to future terrorist attacks almost laughable. Vice President Cheney's actions over the last eight years have certainly erroded what credibility he may have retained as a voice of conservatism. If anything, President Obama has taken substantive steps towards reconciling US credibility with our international partners as they relate to the War on Terror.
Does Cheney remember that under his administration we were victims of the biggest international terrorist attack ever? Even when they had a report that Bin Laden wanted to attack, that his administration though was to “vague” to take serious.
I don’t know of a single topic that I wouldn’t want to listen to Cheney’s advice so I can do the opposite.
Yes, but the price to our freedoms is too much to pay. When the USSR was "safer" when the KGB controlled every move we thought that was terrible. Now that they are more open, crime has increased and personal safety has suffered. I think trying to make the US into a similar police state to make us "safer" flys in the face of what we are suppose to be about. I voted for Obama in part because I felt he would reverse some of the draconian policies of the Bush administration. Freedom comes with a price.
Mr. Cheney must believe what he is doing is right, but isn't he doing the same thing he loved blasting others who he felt were unpatriotic while he was in power. With his statements he is giving aid to our enemies, and that is treason. He should not be given any more platforms to spread his own personal insanity. I for one am tired of his pitbull tactics. He hurt his country for eight years, it is time for him to keep quite.
Jack i feel safe with Obama's policies, by the way who is Dick Cheney to analyze the President 's policies was it not under his watch when the US went to war termed countries "axis of evil" and started a new armed race. Has he forgotten Abu Graib. He should know better. The past years has seen various dicatators saying what they want about the US all because of the Bush Administration's abuse of power and actions. Cheney do me a favor and stay out of sight like W. A lot of harm has been done.
As I grew up during the 50's I was led to believe from media, movies and veterans that we won WWII because we were true to our principals. We believed in and fought for Liberty, Justice, Freedom and Democracy. We even went through a Cold War and the McCarthy Era because we were convinced that we were meant to spread these principals around the world.
While this belief was not always supported by fact, now we have Cheney telling us, Principles be Damned, we need the oil and protection from the producing countries.
Bush/Cheney policies made us unsafe.
Yes, Cheney is RIGHT. Obama's policies will ultimately leave America open to another terrorist attack. Remember how everyone complained after 9/11 that enough was not done to prevent 9/11 – demanding to know why it was ALLOWED to happen? Now that policies were enacted to prevent an attack – folks are still complaining. Get a life. Either you want it stopped or you don't want it stopped. If there is another attack, after years without one, Obama's policies should immediately be investigated and Obama should be prosecuted.
Quite the converse. It strikes me that Dick Cheney's comments are, in effect, an invitation to the terrorists to attack. He is still trying to be the bully. President Obama's civil approach to the world's problems will reduce the likelihood of future attacks.
Jack, Cheney is WRONG…He couldn’t BE more wrong….
Cheney has lied and manipulated this country into breaking the Geneva Conventions, usurping the constitution and torturing hundreds, not just one or two, HUNDREDS of men and boys (according to Amnesty International, the oldest prisoner in Gitmo was 98, the youngest, 13).
Obama is now forced to spend valuable time doing damage control…We have more enemies now than we did in 200; Certainly more than we did after 9/11 and Obama MUST show the world we do have a moral compass and a respect for humanity.
We, as a country, are responsible for what our government does in our name. if we allow Cheney or Bush, for that matter to get by with this, we are approving of this behavior across the board. It is now OK for people to do this to us; to our soldier and to our citizens…We have lost our moral compass.
Dick Cheney"s entire interview was about bashing President Obama. He will never have anything positive to say in regards to the current administration. It also seems to me that Cheney is cheerleading for a terrorist attack on American soil so that he can say he was right about something. What a sap!
G. Dillard North Carolina
Jack everybody knows that Cheney is wrong. What im not sure about is why CNN granted him an interview, nobody cares what he thinks.
Cheney's brain and moral judgement went south 10 years ago. His directives and actions have done more to elevate the risk of further terrorism than can ever be measured. For him, torture is something to rename and place in a shiny toolbox to be opened at will, in secret, of course.
Wow! Any president of the United States will do everything they can to keep our country safe. What is The ex-veep saying-that if we don't torture we will be attacked again? I think they should keep Guontonomo open and house just one person. Any guesses on who?
Dan-Charlotte, N.C.
Jack,
Why don't we just put the bail out and stimulis money in the hands of the American public? This would solve the econoimic crisis over night. Instead we continue to line the pockets of rich bankers who can offer a plethra of reasons why they should get bail out money and keep their extravigant life styles. As to AIG and their latest insult to the American public, I say let them pay out their bonus payments, and make them return the bail out money given to them.
Do you recollect the last time Cheney was right? Ooops! I guess when he shot his friend. Even if the idea of closing the camp would make us more susceptible, he is not going about it the right way. Cheney is angry because he has been stripped of his powers, KBR is not doing well, and the only way to wee back into press is by doing what he does best.....raising false alarm. Dick, your days are over.
I wouldn't dignify the Chaney statement with a response. Why are we giving this individual any media time when he, along with others in that horrible administration, is directly responsible for so much to damage the image, reputation, and world standings, notwithstanding the fact that their foreign policies significantly raised the threat of attacks against the United States by executing policies in the middle east which manifested hate against the US. Who cares what he has to say about anything as this country is about the business of cleaning up and fixing our economy; our foreign policy; our values outlined in our constitution; our liberty; our laws; our trust in Government and our standard of living both nationally and internationally. Why ask the thief if the police are efficient at their job?
I think the U.S. would be better off if Dick would just not talk anymore. The terrorist that warned us about the 9/11 attacks was not tortured, he was arrested and had a trial. The Bush administration are the ones who chose to ignore the treat. So why should we listen to anything that Dick has to say. As Americans we have morals.
– first of all thanks for respecting anonymity. You did that well. Talked about yourself and left out the program. Thanks
Treating people like you would want to be treated is the answer to our "terror problem". Spiritual principles are always the answer.
The truth is that if we want to stop terrorist we have to stop being terrorists. I do not accept that when a rich country does it it is a "response, an action, or defense and when someone with a lower budget kills it is terrorism. Killing is killing torture is torture.
If we want to be safe, we have to show respect for the rest of the world. Non violence always succeeds.
Jack, the answer is no. Dick Cheney's disrespect for anything that is not his ego is more likely to provoke an attack. I would rather ride in president Obama's karma as we run over Cheney's dogma.
Eight years ago we wouldn't be discussing whether torture is evil or good. Those who sell evil for good are making headway. If America makes it a practice of doing such evil how are we the good guys and why shouldn't we be destroyed?
yes, jack, Obama has made it more dangerous for the u.s. I don't get it: all the political correctness about the language describing detainess. and how many of these people have returned to battle field only to attack us again. oh, by the way, wasn't their movement that murdered 3000 of our citizens.
Matt, Miami
Jack.....Why can't the EX-Adminstration just keep their mouths shut? We need more than anything to pull together as a nation. We have a NEW President. One that was elected by a substantial margin and who continues to have the public's support. His words, "We will rise and fall as one nation.", could not be more true than they are right now. If establishing ourselves as a world power without stripping Americans of their civil rights and acting as reputable members of world society offends them.....we are even better off than I imagined. Is it such a terrible thing to just want to be hopeful about our country and it's future?
I don't care if reducing or eliminating torture raises the risk to the USA. The USA that I love doesn't torture. We are a beacon of civil and human rights in a sea of corrupted states lead by individuals like Mr. Cheney.
I don't care to live in a risk free society. I care to live in a righteous society of political, personal, social and religious freedom and personal responsibility.
With the exit of Bush and Cheney from the government, the risk of terrorism was greatly reduced. Those two single handed are responsible for the USA standing in the world: EVERYBODY HATES US!
It is a much more dangerous world because of Bush and his policies. Dick Cheney was the architect of it and the blame should rest with him along with Bush who just went along with it all. Dick just go away.
Of course we will not be in greater danger! Most republican's will do or say just about anything, aganist anyone who does not fully agree with their ideals. Our fore fathers would horse whip some of these people and hang the others! All this negative crap is borderline treason and is un american!
Won't he just go away? No, he'll stick around making a thousand inane comments to defend his tenure and deride the current administration. And when one statement happens to be correct, he'll make the rounds and crow, "See I told you!"
We've had enough of a Stalinist regime over the past eight years. Time for a new game. America needs to re-take the moral high ground.
Yes. But the incremental increase in risk is far outweighed by the importance of upholding the Constitutional values that make this country more safe and secure for its citizens than many other parts of the world. If there is another significant terrorist attack, I hope people (and Congress) remember that.
I voted for Obama but on this i am going to have to go with Cheney. Our enemys dont hesitate to torture and behead my fellow brothers on tv. If we have to push the envelope alittle to get a ton of information, then by all mean, make it happen. We are fighting an uncoventional war and uncoventional enemies, Obama needs to stop worrying about how the POWs are treated and worry about the troops in country and his Americans back at home.
If you are inclined to believe a liar, cheat, coward and a fraud, who was the ethics officer at Enron and ran his own personal death squad out of the White House, then I suppose Cheney would make sense to you. Anyone who believes and trusts this guy needs help.
Martin
Lompoc, CA
I'm 51 & I grew up being taught that we as Americans had no need of torturing folks we were at war with, that it didn't work well anyway for acquiring accurate info, & that modern democracies are simply more decent than that. But then again I wouldn't have responded with total abject fear like Cheney did after9/11.
4 deferments from the Vietnam war I guess left him paranoid and terribly afraid.
Dick Cheney thinks he still has power. The man is deluded and I think most seriously that he has a severely developed caseof paranoia. Sure, we could be attacked again, but if we are, it will be due to the policies of the Bush-Cheney reign of terror.
Carol from Mo.
The only thing dangerous to this country right now are the failed economic policies the Republicans saddled us with and, oh yes, hunting with Dick Cheney!
I didn't believe anything to come out of his mouth then and I really don't now.We didn't see you for 8 years,go back to wherever you used to hide and stay there.
Who cares? This guy is old news. Let's get on with questions about how to change our health care system so that we get more health care for our money.
Everytime Dick opens his mouth, he continues to re-assure me and million other conservatives that he is totally out of touch and that he has lost his mind.
If Dick say Good morning, I will look out the window to be sure, because it could be night time.
Dr Terry Eguaoje
Brandon, MS
Cheney's right. Torture? Everybody acts like it's never been done, by us, but we have tortured spies (in World War II) and other prisoners of war. And why did we do this? Because it works. When you fight a war you fight to win. Geneva Convention rules don't work in this kind of war. The American people should stay out of this one.
He is absolutely correct. The first thing the president is responsible for is the protection and defense of this our country. Then the
establishnent of a secure economy to be able to pay our debts.
Then the various states, according to the Constitution enact their
own laws. Has President Obama forgotten the Constitutional law
he taught for so many years. That which is not prohibited by the
Constitution is in the purview of the states. Obama is weakening the defense of our country and playing havoc with our economy.
No. Having Darth Vader as our Vice President was what caused increase risk for terrorist attacks. Joe Biden is no threat. Let these cooler heads prevail for awhile.
Gary DeWitt Township Michigan
I have an elephant alarm on my porch. My proof that it works? No elephants! That's Cheney's logic that Bush policies prevented terror attacks. And if terrorists attack during Obama's term, that doesn't mean his policies are to blame. IF THAT WERE TRUE, we'd have to blame Bush for 9/11.
Whether we side with the President depends on what we value. If we value life at any cost, we, of course, should side with the former administration. If we value our American way of life and the rule of law, we should side with the President. I'm with the President.. What good is life without the liberties and rights guaranteed in our Constitution? Anything else seems to me to be a dishonor to all who have died since 1776 defending these rights and liberties. Anything else is letting our enemies win.
In Dick's world, everyone is wrong except Dick.
He needs to remember, he's the 'former' Vice President.
His opinions are now no better than anyone else since he no longer gets a daily national security briefing. He may know a lot of people and a lot of things, but national security changes on a daily if not hourly basis. He's so far out of the loop, that he's got no better information than what's reported on CNN like everyone else outside of government.
He needs to keep his mouth shut and focus on writing his memoirs like every other good 'former' VP.
Few people remember this. But the World Trade Center was also attacked during the first year of the Clinton Administration. And there were no further terrorist attacks on American soil (save the Oklahoma City bombing, which was domestic in origin) during Clinton's tenure in office. But, unlike Bush, President Clinton accomplished this without warrantless wiretapping, waterboarding, building a concentration camp or getting 4 thousand of our servicemen killed in a Mid-East war. So I'd say Dick Cheney is a bit offbase in his assessment of what's needed to prevent terrorists from striking the United States.
Yes. The lives of american civillians are worth much more than the comfort and dignity of one terrorist. Exeter NH
Jack, Ex-Vice President Cheney is more dangerous now since he left the vice president's office. Now he can insinuate and make unbridled accusations regardingg the dangers that he and Bush preceived as a threats to America and claim "National Security," without supporting evidence. A tortured prisoner will tell Dick and his torturers exactly what they want to hear. Dick Cheney should be water boarded by Congress to tell what he knows regarding the Iraqi War and other missteps by the Bush Administration. I bet you a dollar against a donut he will think he was being tortured and proclaim all the liberal rights he doesn't think anyone else deserve.
I agree with Dick Cheney. The risk will be irrelevant. I believe there will be a terrorist attack with Barack Hussein Obam as president. It is a established fact that he is a tax and spend liberal. Liberals never do good on foreign policy. A good example is Jimmy Carter another tax and spend liberal who is the main reason we have the budget deficit. To explain if for all liberals to understand, Carter did not support the Shah of Iran. A terrorist government took over. Although Shah was a dictator, he was pro west. Had Carter supported him, there would be no 9/11 or Iraq/Afghanistan. The money we are spending in the middle east, which is mainly the reason for our large budget deficit, is due to Jimmy Carter's blunders while he was in office. That my buddy Jack Cafferty is a historical fact.
Former VP Cheney is wrong in his comments about Pres. Obama. In fact, his comments invite our enemies to attack. He needs to go back to Wyoming and go hunting, preferably with an unloaded shotgun.
Hi Jack,
If the American people or government think they haven't been attacked again is because you are in Iraq, shake your heads. Binladden did what he wanted to do show the western world what he was capable of. The government didn't get proper information before you went to Iraq, and Chainey trusts what the prisioners say.You had no business being in Iraq to begin with and the American president overstepped the UN. Defend your country on your own soil and stop trying to shove the western way down their throats there.Let them go on the way they always have and go after the man that was really to blame for 9/11.
I think it is time that american ppl start having respect for President Obama and call him that . Not Mr Obama. I never heard cnn call President Bush, Mr or President Clinten either.
Roughing up known terrorists is torture but cutting peoples throats on airplanes and flying planes into two towers and the Pentagon killing three thousand people is a tea party protest statement. It is easy for the do gooders to forget what the Democrats did to thousands of loyal Japanese Americans during WWII.
Prevention is better than cure. Talking to Russia proved effective during detente and prevented the cold war from turning into hot war. I recall an American commentator 's remark that as long as they are talking, they are not fighting. As long as we talk to them and still wield our big stick, the US will be alright.
Now that his claims about not using torture have been thoroughly debunked, what else do you expect this man to say when confronted with the truth? He is Cheney, afterall, so of course he is going to use the one and only argument he knows how to use, and that is fear. Sorry, Dick, but the public is tired of being kept down by your doomsday scenarios.
Dick Cheney, like Rush and Ann Coulter would like nothing better than the Obama Admisitration to fail, regardeless of the cost to the nation,
if nothing happens the next 4 years, Cheney's comments will be forgotten, but if something were to happen ( and he whishes it would )
He would say I told you so..
This is like asking advice from AIG on how to run a billion dollar business. Where were the facts in their interview? Where was the prospective? WHY in such a painful time in this country; is John King a ( Republican who worked in the Bush white house) looking to the person who got us into this for answers? I had more respect for King prior to this..."interview"
Jack, we cannot make the Islamic Terrorist love us. They have but only one goal in mind and that is the distruction of western culture. We are fools if we think that playing nice will save us from another attack. They simply do not follow our game rules.
Sincerely, Dianna
Obama's policies do not invite terror attacks. It's wishful thinking on the part of Dick Cheney. The guy just can't stand to see his cousin doing so well.
Looks like Dick Cheney is asking for a war crimes tribunal on him and the rest of the members of the last administration, huh? If he wants to incite some kind of panic, or pit the american people against Obama's policies, then he should get ready for a short and speedy trial of world public opinion. He has a lot of guts being out in the public, and he should feel lucky he's not at The Hague yet.
Jack, when a nation that purports itself to be the "good guys" one can only see the demise of the Bush administration and people like Dick Cheney as a good thing. The more US forces torture others the more likely our soldiers are to face the same fate. Not to mention that we're supposed to be a nation of intellect and forward thinking: Aren't we as a people better than torture?
In short, everything Cheney says now, or in the past...is wrong. No more airtime for the Bushies!
Jack, the American people endured a terror attack from Vice President Dick Cheney every day for eight years. His assault on the Constitution, our standards of morality, and everything good about our country makes him one of the detestable characters in our history.
Is there nothing decent in this man?
Jack,
Why don't we do away with torture and adopt the terrorists way of doing things. They just put a black bag over the prisoner's head, then take their trusty-dusty-sword and cut the prisoner's head off. It seems as though the rest of the world accepts that technique but not water boarding, barking dogs, etc.
Lewis
Florida
It seems Cheney is enjoying the same benefit of our doubt that he enjoyed during the Bush Administration. He is asking us to believe interrogation tactics and warrantless wiretaps are "absolutely essential" without telling us how they work on the grounds of national security. Ironically, he is asking us to trust him when his administration lied about both initiatives, then told us the lies were in the people's best interest. Cheney is campaigning for the Republicans already in a no-lose scenario, that is, if a tragedy occurs, he can point the finger at President Obama, and if no attack occurs, he can embrace our temporary fortune while reminding us an attack is forever on the horizon. Fear mongering can never be proven wrong in a world where photos from Abu Graib can be dismissed with, "The United States does not torture." Except when we do Jack.
If Cheney & Bush think Obama is wrong than I know he's right, those to have gotten it all wrong and have lied so much I cant imagine anyone trusting anything they say.
Is former Vice President Dick Cheney right that Pres. Obama’s policies “raise the risk” of a terror attack in the U.S.?
No he is not right, Cheney's statement should not surprise it is typically authoritarian and alarmist...indeed not unlike his former boss Cheney sees a potential security risk in virtually all behaviour, and as VP used this argument to distort, intimidate, and control not only his subordinates in Congress but the American people...
As much as the Bush administration – at Cheney's suggestion – brushed aside human rights and engaged in what many around the world consider torture during the last 8 years under the guise of protecting the American people, Mr. Cheney is probably right.
That said, it does not excuse their former position nor does it justify a continuation of those policies. Mr. Obama is correct that it has more to do with our values. We must remain above the fray, and find ways to use our miltary and supposed intelligence superiority to root out these terrorist criminals around the world without compromising our values. Doing otherwise is hypocritical and diminishes us in the eyes of our allies and those countries that strive to have more free and open societies, like ours.
Cheney very nearly destroyed this country with his policies. He has no veracity to continue his fear mongering and criticisms.
Are we as taxpayers,still funding the mobile mash unit to follow this draft dodger around ?
Dick Cheney is so out of touch. is a shame that I serve under this man when he was secretary of defense and I was a member of The United States Army. We dont Torture, Mr Chenney need to stop is Crticism of the new administration and polish is hunting skills and stop torturing us by given comedy central more material.
Marcus, Killeen TX
I have felt a forboding since election day and specifically since inauguratin day. Barack Obama is an idealist. That's nice but not practical. Young adults and college kids that elected this guy have no base of judgemet on this, so they will disagree. If you were a child when I was growing up, you got a spanking if you did something wrong. Now in the "New Village" mentality, you get a time out. I have two small children today, and I assure you this is no where near as effective as spankings were. Same deal on Gitmo and domestic spying. If they can get away with it, they will and you are very naive to believe otherwise. Meet force and diligence with force and dilgence. This is America, not Mr. Rogers Neighborhood! Strength of will and power is what will keep us safe...not by being nice.
I would take his advise with a ton of salt. The man is disconnected from reality. His attitude is what has increased the mania that is driving Al Qeda to the blood lust that is causing the deaths of many and the hatred of the US. Cooler heads must prevail now.
CHENY IS FULL OF BALONEY. My family fought the Imperial Japanese Army in WW2. From 1931-1945, the fascist Japanese Army tortured and killed it's adversaries without mercy, in China and the Pacific Theater, Under Bush and Cheney we began to use some of the same techniques of the fascists of WW2.
Under Cheney's direction, our great nation violated the U.S. Constitution by illegally snooping on billions of e-mails of US citizens while waging a war under false pretenses for non-existent WMDs to make oild men rich, then violating the Geneva Convention by torturing the subsequently captured POWs... Chenye should be prosecuted by the International War Crimes Tribunal. That would be fitting for the disgrace he has brought to the flag of our great nation.
And we should listen, and give credence, to this person who lied about the Iraq war, weapons of mass distruction, torture, and virtually everything else during his term as vice president ; this person who got people to lie for him and then wanted them pardoned,because?
I agree with Joe Biden – Dick Cheney is the most dangerous Vice-President the country has ever had – actually he's just plain dangerous, and it is his and President Bush's policies that have raised the risks of terror attacks, not just in the U.S., but all over the world. Hundreds of thousands of people are dead and maimed because of their policies so one could certainly worry about the need for those who have suffered at their hands to seek revenge.
There are a lot of people out there looking into holding Bush and Cheney accountable for their torture policies, along with the most recent revelation that Cheney has been behind a number of assassinations in other parts of the world.
CNN should be investigating Cheney, not interviewing him and actually allowing him to repeat the same disgusting lies to further his hateful ambitions.
Jack,
If memory serves, it was the Bush administration's complete lack of attention or reaction to pre-9/11 intelligence reports that all but guaranteed that attack would occur. So I guess Mr. Cheney knows a thing or two about how to make the country far less safe (and how to profit handsomely from the effort).
Bill
Cheney should not criticize anyone with regard to creating terrorists. What does he think was accomplished by the wars in Irag and afghanistan?? I believe that they have createde a generation of potential terrorists that may seek "vengence" against the US for the next decade.
This man is a joke. He never served but is a great hawk? President Obama may be many things, but this writer believes his International policies will help defuse some of the anti-american sentiments around the world.
Bill Clinton's law enforcement "traffic-ticket" approach to dealing with terrorists was the direct cause of 9/11. Now, Birth Certificate Barry is trying it again. I mean, "Hey, sticking our heads in the sand only killed 3,000 people! Let's give it another chance, shall we?"
When America is attacked again, AND IT WILL HAPPEN again, can we finally admit the "hope and change and rainbows and unicorns" theory of dealing with terrorists is essentially suicide? Until we admit that, I'm staying out of tall buildings.
I like what Jimmy Carter said about Dick Cheney a while back - that he's irrelevant and no one should pay any attention to anything he says. I can't imagine why John King had that evil man on his show. Why should any of us care what he says? IF it is true that we will be more open to a terror attack as a result of Obama's policies, and that's IF, mind you, then so be it! Better be more open to terror attacks than to become what we hate, and no better than the terrorists themselves. If we could only learn that when we take away one person's liberties and civil rights, then we take away our own. Terror will disappear when people aren't starving, when the US stops making bad bargains for oil and other self serving aims, when people are educated and are allowed to be free. That's the way to fight terrorism.
Will the risk go up if we lower our intelligence gathering techniques? Duh... Of course it will, but at what cost does the increased security tear at our core American values by torturing another human? That cost is a price too high for us, as Americans, to consider paying for a little more security. Let's see if we can find a better way.
why should we listen to cheney,a guy having approval rating lower than bush. He supports government intervention in torture and human rights abuse but does not support government intervening helping middle class during resession,i guess i blame john king,i mean why talk to a guy like that
I think former Vice President Dick Cheney what’s something to happen on President Obama’s watch. That was the problem with Bush and his team to much mouth. When former President Bush came into office he ran off his mouth about taking out the acts of evil. There is a time to talk and a time to just shut up.
America more unsafe because of Obama?
That's just silly and most Americans know it.
What is now "unsafe" is the illusion of power that Republicans voted into office, hoping that bravado and force would save us.
Power and coercion never gives up without an excuse or a fight. It's like the man who hits his wife, and then apologizes, only to do it again.
America is waking up to see that intelligent understanding does not exclude strength. We are beginning to engage the world with more equanimity and grace than we have in years, providing us with increasing respect and making us more safe.
Congrats on your book Jack; you're a good man.
Jack: One day (Jan. 19) we were chasing the 'evil doers' and had a war on terror, and the next day (Jan. 20) we didn't. What would we do without Darth Vader Cheney to raise his spectre to remind us to be very afraid? The only one I"m afraid of is him. The people who terrorized us were Bush, Cheney and their neoconservative buddies.
Claire, San Francisco
Jack,
Do you know the similarities between Bin Laden and Bush/Cheney?
Bin laden: the mastermind of 911 attack.
Bush/Cheney: the masterminds of Iraq Ivasion.
American people learned how to ignore the propaganda from Terrorists, so do Bush/Cheney....
Bottom Line: NO Attacks since 9/11 speaks for itself – Bush/Cheney anti-terrorist policies have been successful. To change those policies leaves America -open to attack – again.
I have been in service to our nation for over 22 years in the world's finest military. I have spent 3 of the past 7 years deployed overseas away from my family, a good portion of that time being in harm's way. I, and many, many more much greater than I serve our nation to defend our ideals of liberty and justice for all-even those who do not deserve it. But I am also reserved in my judgement of our late Vice President and his administration. If we were asking this question on September 12, 2001, what would our response be? What if we are preventing the death of thousands or tens of thousands of innocents by using harsh interrogation methods or even torture? It is not a black and white question, and unfortunately, there do not appear to be any black and white answers.
/Well, if I remember correcty, we were warned that if Mr. Bush was re-elected then we would be attacked. Looking at it that way they caused the whole problem with Ben Laden. He was trainned and betrayed by the Bush Administeration. They helped Ben Laden's family get out of the country. So, what type of connection did we have with Ben Laden? If this caused 9/11 then.....????????
Perhaps Cheney should be tortured until he produces the receipt for the weapons of mass destruction he was so certain were in Iraq. As far as terror is concerned, given the current failure of your economy-it appears you have more than enough of domestic financial terrorists. If Al Queda wanted to instill fear and terror, they've been out performed by the unregulated greed, incompetent thieves who profited from knowingly granting and selling worthless mortgages. Cheney should be charged for contravening international law, and sent to the International Court of Justice in The Hague.
President Bush & Dick Cheney protected the US from another attack after 9/11. Sorry to admit I have absolutely no faith in what O says. I am not a racist. He just is tooooo librel for the US and especially our
future for our grandchildren. He is leading us from a capitalist country into socialism. Our forefathers had great wisdom and it is un -believable how many things he is trying to change.
Made us safer? Cheney ALLOWED the only attack in the US mainland since 1812! And that was after 8 months in office. Then he killed tens of thousands of Arabs in Iraq to insure our insecurity. He is covering his fanny.
Dick Cheney's hands (with or without his shotgun) did more to raise risks of terror attacks than anything that President Obama will ever do.
The experts have also told us that, actually, torture produces more inaccurate information than accurate.
Bush and Cheney did much more than just deter terrorist attacks in the U.S. after 9/11 (in fact, there have been more terrorist attacks world-wide)-but Bush and Cheney produced a huge amount of distrust and disgust in many nations (who formerly respected and liked the U.S). This disgust inspired more terrorists to attack. Cheney and Bush also didn’t do much to deter what happened on 9/11.
Dick Cheney is wrong, and I wish he would just stick to hunting ducks and shooting lawyers, instead of torturing me with any more of his inane comments.
I cringe everytime i hear the former Vice Pres.boast about how the strategies employed by the Bush administration kept the country safe from another terrorist attach on the USA.The fact is,the 9/11 attacks occurred on their watch,and the fact that the country has not had another attack since then can also be attributed to the fact that the terrorist are very patient people and are prepared to sit and wait until they feel the time is right. To expect that they would strike again so soon after 9/11 is not giving them any credit at all.So,all those illegal measures adopted by the Bush administration cannot be considered as being conclusively responsible for the relative safety that the country has enjoyed since then.The reason why Pres. Obama has decided to reverse some of these measures,is because they are morally wrong and are against the same principles that cause the terrorist to attack the USA in the first place.No one can predict what the terrorist will do next,but whatever it is,it won't be because we did the right thing.
The former Vice Prez. (Cheney)is absolutely right. Pres. Obama needs to re-assure the American people about the safety and security of our nation through strategic alliance with other nations who believes that freedom can be attain through peaceful and diplomatic means. We don't need to engage in another conflict like Iraq or Afghanistan but instead focus more on the domestic or national security of our nation.
In a free society you have to use every tool available to PREVENT attacks. It has to be a full court press, all the time. Had the Clinton administration properly pursued the FIRST Trade Center attack and grasped the global scope, rather than calling a police action, perhaps 9/11 would have not occurred.
For the first time in the history of our nation, we were attacked by a "non-nation" and the incarceration in Gitmo and classification as enemy combatants was as unique as the threat itself. Something had to be done, whether imperfect or not. Enemies of our state certainly do not deserve the legal rights of our citizens.
The audacity of hope will not deter violence from extremists that seek to harm us. Only a strong defense and even stronger response to threats is understood by any violent enemy. I'd much rather have Cheney guarding the door than Obama.
Jack, why should American people care about one of the two masterminds of Iraq Invasion?
The very fact that Cheney is no longer in the Whitehouse makes us much safer. Also his talk of democracy in the middle east just confirms the terrible lies from the Bush/Cheney regime that got us into this war of choice in the first place. Practically nobody would have 'signed on' for a pre-emptive invasion for the sole purpose of 'seeding' democracy.
But I digress, Obama's policies are only a return to the values the rest of the world admired us for at one time, and will again. With the return of respect for our ideals will also come a safer America.
Tracy
Parsons Kansas
It may be that holding true to America's core values increases the short term risk of attacks but that is no different now than at any point in the last 200+ years. Declaring your independance from England increased the risk of attacks. Not surrenderring after Pearl Harbor increased the risk of attacks. Having trials for people arrested by police increases risks. In fact every freedom enshrined within your Bill of Rights increases short-term risk to personal safety in some way. The greatness that your country showed to the world over the last two centuries is that certain principles are worth risking short-term safety for. The long-term increase to safety and wellbeing more than make up for that risk. Over the last eight years the concept of America has been kept alive outside your government ; It is good to see an American administration re-embracing America's values again.
David Richards, Regina, SK, Canada
Hi Jack–
In 1983 then-President Reagan pulled the U.S. Marines out of Lebanon after a terrorist bombing, mere weeks after he sent them there on to stabilize that country after years of civil war. In 1993, then-President Clinton pulled the Marines out of Somalia shortly after the "Blackhawk Down" incident, shortly after they were sent there to alleviate the starvation occuring in the midst of that country's lawlessness. In 2001 then-President George W. Bush ignored warnings of a pending attack inside the U.S. by Al Qaeda. After successfully routing them from Afghanistan, he allowed remnants to escape regroup and rebuild in Pakistan when U.S. troop were pulled at the last minute to go to the impending invasion of Iraq.
What increases the risk of terrorism is disenfranchised people perceiving us as the cause of their misery, rather than a source of progress and hope for them and their children. When that happens, they listen to the siren call of the tyrants, bigots and terrorists and join or abet them. When they see us torture, they lose faith in our willingness to abide by our own ideals. When they see us back down in the face of violence, rather than stand and fight where necessary and be willing to negotiate where we are wrong, we lose our moral force.
America is great when America is a force for good, not just making money–and is perceived as such. That gives hope. When we live our principles and support the oppressed–even when the oppressor is our erstwhile ally (like the Saudi Royal Family or former Pakistani dictator Musharaff), we become the beacon that people need and want. And they then are more likely to be our friend, rather become our foe in teaching their young, or on the battlefield or our own cities
I'm not sure if the new policies will actually put us in danger but it is clear that something was actually being done right by the previous administration. It is a credit to those previous policies that we remained safe for the 7 years following the 9-11 attack.
We need to remember most ofthese stories of torture are coming from people accused of trying to harm or kill Americans. For now, I'm willing to give the benefit of doubt to the policies of President Bush and I hope President Obama keeps the safety of Americans above all other considerations.
The only attack he has any credibility on is a "heart attack"...Why do you people keep parading these people out..What earthly purpose does it serve...Listening to these people defend themselves post facto is TORTURE !!!!!!!!
No. What I'd like to know from Dick Cheney is which policy or policies of his and Bush brought on the terrorist attack of 9/11.
Really, Dick?
Water boarding keeps terrorists from attacking? Depriving human beings of basic necessities keeps terrorists from attacking? Spying on ordinary Americans keeps terrorists from attacking?
Perhaps if he and Dubya didn't take such long vacations during the first 8 months of their presidency... maybe they could have paid attention to the warnings that had been told to them about an Islamic jihadist; taking lessons on how to fly a 747.
Maybe then, Dick; we could have avoided a terrorist attack.
Hell, what do I know? I don't hold any merit to Dick unless I would happen to be swimming in black gold.
Cheney has led a life of greed and selfishness, which ultimately stems from fear. That lets him justify torture. He's wrong; oh, he is very very wrong.
Jack, I would seriously consider the comments of someone that has served as Vice President for 8 years and also as Secretary of Defense. Believing that if we treat terrorists nice when they are captured on the battle field and become our prisoners will translate into them treating us nice when we are their prisoners is not only naive, it is dangerous.
Should we become sadistic and overtly torturous? Of course not, but we must take prudent measures to collect intelligence, incarcerate those that have or intend to do us harm, and do what we can to dissuade others from taking arms against the US and our allies.
Jack,
Cheney has a great record: 100%, just all wrong.
Let the man rest in his retirement and do not subject us to his partisan rantings. He is not news. He does not deserve any more of our time. We have two wars and a recession to fix all of which was left to us by Bush/Cheney.
Do not be part of damaging us further. Mr. Cheney has not earned any further attention. He will only continue to ruin the country.
Terrorist attacks or attempts are going to be a part of our future. President Obama's policies will not change that fact. America and American will have to become more vigilant and aware of our surroundings. Rules must be put in place and enforced to protect all americans.
The Obama plan doesn't put us at more risk. Rather, it provides an opening for the rest of the world to respect us more. The Bush policies actually created more terrorists because Abu Grahib and Guantanamo made it easier for the world to vilify us, and made the terrorists' cause more sympathetic. They want us to respond with a heavy-handed hammer because that way they can say, "See? We told you the Americans couldn't be trusted with power."
By reversing the Bush policies, Obama shows that we can remain safe and still hold on to the liberties we hold dear.
Here comes another limbaugh,are republicans not tired of breeding these guyz
Let's have an unambiguous definition of what is torture, so it's clear to everyone what can and can't be permitted, and why does the Red Cross have any kind of report that is secret?
Harry
Tampa
Read my lips: We kept you safe, except when we ignored the pre-9/11 warnings. Is this the guy who should be giving advice??
There is but one American policy that makes us far less safe and both Cheney and Obama have supported it. Of course I'm talking about the blind support of Israel.
PS–
After seeing Wolf Blitzer's and your recounting of your book and life...
I'm proud of you too Jack. You're a credit to your profession, our country, your family and your audience.
Former V.P. Dick Cheney needs to get over the fact that he no longer runs the country as he did during the "Bush Administration". With the way he and Bush left this economy and the country, he has absolutely no credibilty what so ever. President Obama is following through with a campagin promise to get out of Iraq and close gizmo. President Obama will do whatever it takes to protect us as Americans. I suggest that maybe Cheney should go hunting or something. But if he goes hunting, I think he should do that by himself.
President Obama is doing what should have been done during the "Cheney" administration. I feel more secure with our current President knowing that he is a diplomat rather than an irrational fool who acts before he thinks. Prehaps we should subject Mr. Cheney to the "aggressive" methods of waterboarding, food and water depravation, exposure to extreme temperatures without clothing (althought this in itself is torture to anyone having to witness it) and being shackled standing days on end. Maybe then he would agree that this is indeed torture – or maybe these methods would persuade him to finally admit to all the crimes he committed during his time in office.
Jack,
This was a ruse. Remember, the old adage "The best defense is a good offense". Cheney knows the US has treaty obligations to investigate war crimes and that he faces the very real possibility of being labeled a war criminal. What better way to deflect that label than to say the charges are politically motivated. Unfortunately, he prevented the possibility of ever being prosecuted under US law, because of the findings made by John Yoo while he was in the Office of Legal Counsel, but you can be certain that Mr. Cheney is and should be very nervous about traveling beyond US borders.
Listen carefully....we all now know the result of brutal interrogation tactics, torture, and inhumane prisoner treatment sanctioned during a zealous Bush administration...so it only follows that ex-VP Cheney, with dirty hands, continues to belittle any efforts to right those wrongs. The world knows that throwing gasoline on a smoldering situation is a waste of fuel, time, and words by those who lon ago had their chance to take the high road.
– Moneta, VA
Unbelieveable. This guy and Bush destory this country through corporate wars and allowing the investment class of our nation to steal our wealth and he has the "sand" to say that Obama is making us less safe. Right. Bankrupting our nation so Chenney could make his buddies at Haliburton rich made us more safe, sure.
Do we remember that Richard Clarke tried to warn the Bush/Cheney administration about terrorists and they wouldn't listen?
The Obama policies on "We do not torture" have no affect on terorrist attacks. Cheney is more worried about Bush not pardoning Libby. Afraid of the skeletons that will come out. Why do you think Bush didn't pardon him? Bush know's Scooter will sqeal if he gets in the hot seat, Cheney is worried about the skeletons coming out. That's all.
Why do the Republicans always say during Bush Adm we were never attacked again after 9/11. Well we were attack during his adm. If they want to use that agrument then we weren't attacked 7 years before that either, that is about the stupidist statement I have been hearing going around these day. That means because he was in office its the reason we were safe, ridicolous.
Cheney , is already planning the next 9-11. back in 1997 when Clinton was dragging this country out of the ditch that Reagan and the first Bush put it in, Cheney was in a meeting on the New World Order with four of his close constituents when he stated [ quote] "we need a new Pearl Harbor". Osama Bin laden supplied them with terrorist that they needed but he did not plan the attack .
Shawn:
Iraq never had ANY WMD? What do you think Saddam Hussein used to gas thousands of Kurds, wipe out villages and combat the Iranian military?
Maybe you mean that the inspectors could not find any WMD after the invasion. That statement is true. We only found anti-poisonous-gas suits and the like, and older munitions with poison gas, but no new stockpile of WMDs. But there is no question he had and used WMD in the past. Indeed, there is no question tha he had a nuclear weapons program until Israel took out the reactor in the 1980s.
Try to be a bit more factual, please. The intelligence that Saddam had WMD was faulty, but all Western intelligence agencies had reached the same conclusion before the war that the y did exist. Was Cheney responsible for British, French, israeli and other similar intelligence analyses?????
Not everybody you dislike is evil.
The one thing I don't fathom is how either Cheny or Bush can say anything about keeping Americans safe when the only terrorist attack on American soil occured on their watch?
The war on terror ... is also a war for the hearts and minds of those who may appear to be our enemy.
Warmth, compassion, empathy ... care for our fellow humans ... these are powerful weapons in the war on terror.
But spying ... to find those who seek to destroy us? Spy on.
Im more concerned with cheney than bin laden
Terrior is here to stay,until we learn how to get along with the rest of the world. Cheney is responsible for a large share of the mess we are in now. As long as we have free will,there will be terror,homegrown and from abroad. Gene
From North Carolina A bill is being introduced in Congress to hold Dick Cheney guilty of arranging and ordering death squads all across the Middle East to do hits on specific individuals, bypassing the military. These were answerable only to Cheney's office. Some Guy, this Cheney.
The likelihood of terrorists TRYING to attack the US has done nothing but increase during the Bush/Cheney mis-administration. If an attack happens on Obama's watch, it won't likely be because Obama did something wrong, although the GOP will spin it any way they can get it.
Paul from Bloomington, MN
I don't think Cheney has the right to advise anyone about policies on terror attacks on the U.S. especially when his administration that's right "his" , fumbled the lives of thousands of American lives on 911 when they had the intel of it comming and didn't listen I think he should be slapped with some common sense and learn to keep his trap shut.
Jack after the devious leadership of Cheney and cowboy Bush and the mess THEY created over 8 years neither of them have the right
to judge President Obama...period
the President is trying to clean up the mess they created!
I cannot believe the audacity of Cheney after all the crimes he comitted in office! They just got *lucky* there were no further attacks especially after they dropped the ball on Binladen and made terror
worse with their illegal war in Iraq!!
I wonder how Cheney feels when he looks at the face of a vet burned beyond recognition bc of his LIES and then he is worried about Scooter Libby ...Pathetic!! shows you how shallow he really is!!
He should go on a long hunting trip and take the mouth piece Rush Limbaugh with him LOL
I was reminded last night as I watched “The Judgment at Nuremburg” of how much the Busch/Chaney administration reminds me of Hitler’s 3rd Reich.
In one of the closing scenes of the movie, Judge Hayword (played by Spencer Tracy) says to Ernest Janning (played by Burt Lancaster), “it ‘came to it’ the first time you (Janning) signed the order for the execution of a man you knew was innocent.”
The gist of this is that you don’t have to kill or torture thousands of prisoners, you cross the line when you kill or torture the first prisoner.
Nothing would make me happier than to see Cheney in the "doc" for his crimes against humanity. As every new crime committed by Cheney and his cohorts is revealed, we get closer to that day.
John,
CC, TX
Bush and Cheney prevented terror attacks on America because the terrorist knew that the Republican policies would work just as well as suicide bombers!!!!
Cheney and Bush did more damage to this nation then any terror attack since 9-11. To break laws and make a profit on the American people is of course something he justifys.
To defend what happened by the hand of Republican House and then the frosting on the cake of Bush helping to wreck this nation is nothing short of the another lie by Cheney. Denial of him to think the people of this nation are too stupid to figure out who set the table and lit the room on fire before it was blazing just goes to show what a slime he is and one of the reasons he could consider Rushlimballs is his best friend. He must got a few bucks to defend the money coming his way. I m never amazed how stealing money and corruption makes one not able to see that others are NOT buying the bag of sheit no matter how nice the store it comes from is. I hope he gets prosecuted.
Cheney's big mouth creates more danger and anything the New Administration is or has done. He had his chance during the last 8 years. Go to Wyoming and stay there and keep he mouth shut.
In my opinion, i do not think that this will lead to another attack. With Bush out of office. Simply put, based on experience and history, we should seek Mr. Cheney and Mr. Bush’s opinions, and then do precisely the opposite. Dick Chaney has a perfect record of being WRONG about everything else. Why do you think he would mess that up now?
Q: Why do elephants paint their toenails red?
A: So they can hide in cherry trees.
Well, have you ever seen an elephant in a cherry tree? No? See, it works.
Q: Why did Cheney/Bush invade Afghanistan and Iraq?
A; To make us safe from terrorists.
Well, have we been attacked since 9/11? No? See, it works.
The logic is the same. In other words, absurd.
Martin
Lompoc, CA
Dick Cheney is flat out wrong as usual. Torture besides being un ethical does not even serve the purpose it is supposed to: extract valid info. While at the same time it just fuels the fire of hate and indoctrination of more new terrorists.
Martin in Los Angeles
Why did you bother to interview Cheney? Let him fade away into the sunset where he belongs. What were you thinking? And, no, we're not in more danger.
The things that are cited to have occurred have happened to me also for many, many, many years. Made to bleed, made to sleep out-of-doors for decades, drugged, poisoned, slaved, etc., etc., etc.. When Cheney says, "Stuff happens," I suspect that he's talking to decent people that the things I keep alleging ARE ACTUALLY TRUE - "Stuff happens." As far as 'tweeking' or 'word-smithing' policy, well anything that the decent people might do 'might' impact behavior to the detriment of 'hands-on policy'. That's just life for some of us. Someone couldn't keep their pants on. 'That someone' would be my father.
Andy of Sierra Vista, Arizona
Cheney wasn't right when he was IN office... why would he be right now?
Seriously, this is coming from the guy who eagerly condoned torture and destroyed the evidence showing how barbaric it was.
The main suspects of a terrorist act will be the right wing as incited by Rush Limpbrow...
How would Cheney know, he was at an undisclosed location for 8 yrs. Him and Bush caused more harm to this country than any terrorist could do.
This whole risk thing is impossible to measure. Did Cheney elevate the risk of attack by not forking over the bucks to safeguard all our ports? By not securing nuclear waste sites across the world? It's easy enough to say you're elevating the risk since no one is proving anything. And what is the risk is elevated? From 1 in 10 trillion to 2 in 10 trillion? How much money should be spent reducing risk that much?
And if Obama takes other measures to reduce risk, do we care if overall the risk may go down? Too much thinking for people, huh?
Taking potshots from the sidelines is too easy. I just wish the media would do a little more analysis instead of just repeating talking points.
In answer to the question, only if the US plans on false-flag attacking itself again. This time they could use the "terror" the crisis creates to strike out against Iran or Pakistan, then everyone would forget about the banker based implosion of our economy....
Cheney would have had a Gestapo "police force" if he could have gotten away with it. Secuirity concerns from a guy who couldn't find Bin Laden, or any WMD are a bit hard to swallow
Who is going to believe Dick Cheney?
He is a product of an administration that was headed by the most
prolific liar in the history of the office of president..
Hi9 Jack,
It is totally disengenuous of former VP Chenney to even suggest that any policy of the Obama administration vis-a-vis Gitmo attributes to "making Americans less safe".
Cheney should remove the "rose coloured glasses" and admit that the Bush adminsitration has single-handedly, in eight short years, has made the US the most hated nation globally!
Whatever happened to the great dream of president Kennedy involving American outreach to the developing world? This witnessed ten of thousands of young, motvated Americans, helping the developing world witthout ideological motivation. Frankly, America was never more respected and accepted!
Perhaps all that President Obama is trying to achieve is the return to respect by all nations for the US.
A.Houston
Wow, Dick Cheney needs to get a life. He is not in office anymore. He is just mad because McCain lost. Seriously Cheney, your done with being president. By the way, I called it the Cheney administration because Cheney was... "the decider."
The former VP. like the former President. always manages to leave out the fact that neither one of them served a single day in the military. Time for both to fade away into bad memory of history. CNN, please interview people with actual credentials.
NO! How ironic! Dick Cheney is now trying to rationalize the twisted and warped policies of the Bush administration under the pretense of leaving a legacy. He should be put on trial for lying , deceiving, and endangering American lives. The U.s. became so hated and disliked by more than just the Muslim world. Bin Laden and his clones are still out there thanks to Cheney and his clones.
As usual, the leftist hold to be responsible for nothing and all too willing ot assume responsibility only for that which pleases them. The provisions under Pres. Bush were the policies that helped this country be safe for the past 8 years. Obama's return to a "police incident" view of terrorism will be exploited. And, it will be the fascist arrogance of the left which will have invited this assault. Just as their arrogance with respect to illiegal immigration is now resulting in near war-like conditions on our border.
Jack,
Dick Chenney and George Bush did more to harm to this country then al-qaeda ever will. Why should anyone listen to him?
!!! Bravo for President Obama !!!
I don't want my country to engage in torture and "illegal" wiretapping...
Guantanimo Bay be gone !!!
We have to be true to our values.
Let's try to be the 'good guys'
'Nuff said
I think less Americans will die now that the war mongers are gone. If America is less safe, it is because of Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Wolfowitz, and the rest of the neo-cons, have made the US more hated and thus more vulnerable by this unilateral and illegal war. Americans should be more afraid of the rights that were lost by the Patriot and Homeland Security Acts. I can't imagine living in a country where you can be picked up, thrown in jail (without due process), and left there indefinitely. How does the saying go – "Give me liberty or give me death?" Now that these guys are gone it is time to make things right!!
We had our worst attack here in America on the Bush/Chaney watch. Who are they kidding. Of course there is always a chance. They don't hate us for our freedom. They don't like us because of our policies in the middle east.
Jack,
Cheney doesn't mean anything now so he can just go back to the rich neighborhood he came from and enjoy the secret service protection that us taxpayers pay for and spend all of his Halliburton profits from the Iraq war.
Even if the Taliban or Hamas attack us again, its not because we don't have Gitmo Bay or reducing our troops in Iraq so NO....Cheney is wrong again, as usual...
All right. Let's not be naive. There are throngs of people who hate what this country stands for and what, unfortunately, we have done to them. Regarding the latter, let's just use the b.s. term "collateral damage"; i.e. we've blown innocent people to bits time and time again. Would it matter to you if your family was ripped to pieces and bled and/or burned to death in front of your eyes and those that did it explained, "Oopps, sorry, it wasn't personal, it's just collateral damage"? Well, such is human nature that those folks who are left alive might just want revenge. Forget turn the other cheek stuff. Would you? If there were people who had a way to get the guys that did it, I'd want to be one of them and get others to join me. That said, we need to be prepared for revenge attacks. And I'm not even talking about the Bin Ladens of the world who believe our existence just shouldn't be. But, is it wise to keep on creating "collateral damage"? I don't think so. We absolutely need to use every means at our disposal..economic, diplomatic, political, electronic and military (only to defend against outright attack) to turn things around. Bush and Cheney attacked the wrong country at the wrong time for the wrong reasons. THEY gave those that hate us so many more reasons to hate us even more. Cheyney really does have reason to fear attack. He would say he was only responding to our known enemies. But that's like a pyromaniac who sees a fire and uses gasoline to douse it. (My guess is he probably made money off the sale of that gas). Obama wants to use actual intelligence and non lethal tools to help regain tolerance and equilibrium. Knee jerk reactions are not in his repertoire. But, we still need to have a big stick handy. I have no doubt that Obama does. He's from Chicago. South Side.
The Bush administration policies did more to incite further terrorism than thwart it. If we have to suspend civil rights, torture prisoners and become worse thugs than those that hate us, then I would say it's not worth it. We can win over more "potential" terrorists to peaceful co-existence by proving we can be a beacon of freedom and tolerance in the world than we can by humiliating America's reputation through torture, civilian wiretapping and suspension of our privacy. Only when Bush and Cheney appear before the Hague on war crimes trials will they truly understand that their behavior is unacceptable and a shameful chapter in our American History. America will be safer when Bush and Cheney are serving their sentences and exposed for the terrorists that they truly are.
Jack, Why is EVERYONE missing the 800 pound gorilla in this room? The former VICE PRESIDENT of the United States has ACKNOWLEDGED the GOVERNMENT's activity in WAR CRIMES ! He WAS AWARE of them, and obviously, since he is saying they were just, supported them. Cheney and Bush MUST be held accountable for their VIOLATIONS of INTERNATIONAL LAWS.
I hope our government has the courage to pursue this- NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW.
Dennis Lanthrum
Cortland, Illinois
I don't know if Obama's policys will lead to another attack. But I do know the Bush/Cheney policy of "enhanced interrogation" will guarantee to lead to every american soldier, citizen, journalist kidnapped or captured overseas to subject to "enhanced interrogation" methods that we can't even imagine, and we will have no basis on which to object. They have undone decades of building the American image.
Jack:
When considering the question of national security the Republicans talk about President Bush keeping the country safe – we are safer now than we were eight years ago! Are we? By destroying our economy in my mind makes us more venerable than we were eight years ago! Unfortunately I do not hear the Democrats making this point. Am I wrong?
Jack the nerve of this former vice President here you have a guy that was part of an administration that claims they kept America safe but yet they sat on there hands after Hurricane Katrina brought us record deficits a war that should have never been waged tortured hundreds and basically shredded our constitution and ignored the voices of the American people now he wants us to listen to him I dont think so the best thing about the Bush or should I say they Cheney administration is that its over
I can't believe Cheney isn't serving jail time! how did he, and how is he getting away with it?
In the spirit of patriotism the American people pretty much gave Bush and company a pass on 9/11. If on 9/12 our president had declared we'd be energy independent before he left office, our country would be much more secure now. If Mr Bush had spent 100 billion on rebuilding a waterproof, modern New Orleans, that money would have circulated in the economy by now and probably would have mitigated the financial bind we're in. If bush had not joined with the auto companies in their self-destructive effort to defeat higher mpg standards we might not have the big 3 in such dire straits. If Bush had heeded the warnings in 2006 about the impending mortgage crisis... In short, bad ideas tumbled out of the Bush administration like clowns out of a Volkswagen. And now you want me to take Dick Cheney seriously? uh-uh, not this time.
It amazes me the number of people who appear to think that the only way to deal with someone or some entity that disagrees with you is to engage in combat, and that anything else is the political equivalent of rolling over and playing dead. Perhaps this is why our society is falling apart. Conflict resolution on any level should involve constructive engagement with a strong grip on reality. Speak softly and carry a big stick is how one Republican president put it so well. We cant' bomb the entire world into submission.
Closing Guantanamo is not going to result in a lot of actual terrorists moving in next to the soccer moms. It might result in careful prosecution of the ones who are really a threat, rather than returning them to someplace in the mountains where they can receive further terrorist training.
Cheyney is a fool. Obama is way smarter than most of you realize. Keep your mouths shut and listen and learn something new.
Bush and Cheny, legalized the use of warrantless electronic surveillance, detained people indefinately without chargers or a fair trial, and made torture acceptable. Lowering the United States of America to the level of brutal nations like Israel and the other third world middle eastern countries. Obama is only restoring the original american values.
In the great "us vs. them" battle that is homeland security, I'd personally much rather error on the side of caution. Some of those released detainees have already been photographed back in terroist camps... releasing them seems like a poor idea.
I'm all for respect and caring, but when it comes down to it, they don't like us, and they wouldn't return the courtesy if hell froze over.
Jack,
Cheney's sources have no idea what is going to happen to America in the next few weeks and months. My source is our Creator and He has never lied to man. He says that Russian submarines will position themselves up to 600 miles off our coasts and fire multiple nuclear warheads at our cities and kill 50 to100 million americans, destroy our coasts, our government, our economy, and start a global depression that the nations of the world will never recover from. After the radiation settles, Rossian Generals with mercenaries fom Germany, Turkey, Iran, Libya, Ethiopia, etc. will parachute in from rhe north move south to take a spoil until we klill every last one of them.
He told George Washington, at Valley Forge, that after we killed all of the invading Army, that no nation would ever occupy this land except those of His People that He would lead here.
Does that sound like a terrorist attack to you?
The answer is No. but if, you want increase it get Bush and, Cheney back again to the white house those guys are amaizing, they have the ability to screw up anything!! And what they call that keeping the american people safe!!!
if theres 9-11 atacks why come we all just move out of the us or we can get our butts kicked.the terror nevers going to stop because i just dont feel safe about our boaders .well only mexico cause canada never does anything all they do is just nothing!!!the american governor has to do something about it .cant vietnam do any ting we were enamy ,but now were like next door neighbors
This is a response to those that would defend the actions of the Bush/Cheney administration, particularly Tim Hutchins – FL
Other countries hate America because of the actions of Bush & Cheney because we profess to be bringing freedom and democracy to the world, yet we don't afford the people of these countries the same rights and freedoms we enjoy at home. It’s the hypocrisy of our actions and our interventionist foreign policy that has brought the worlds hatred upon us. Once we as a country accept that our past actions have dictated our future, we will change our foreign policy and will begin to rebuild our reputation throughout the world. While he is not doing anywhere near enough, at least Obama has made a few steps in the right direction.
The hatred and feeling of rape on the Muslim world that Cheney and his posse caused eventually is going to explode in our face, that is for sure, but it is only because of Cheney's policies, cruelty, and indifference to the consequences for the American people and to America. Who caused "the risk" to start with? Cheney and the bunch of Bushies warmongers; they put America in ridicule harm's way.
As a sample, Europe is balking at the RISK they'd get in receiving, just receiving, prisoners from Guantanamo. The undeniable RISK of holding unchargable prisoners! Is he so sick as to deny it ? Is he for real?
The terrorist were trying to kill us when Clinton was in the Whitehouse, So you think being nice to them will make all the scary stuff go Away. Guess what It wont! The 911 attack was in the planning stages under Clinton. Whats next on the agenda is gonna make 911 pale in comparison, And then we all get to point our fingers at Obama. Im sure that will make all the widows and orphans feel better.
This is a 50/50 chance action. President Obama has a chance of risking another terrorist attack by closing GITMO and actually giving the terrorist cowards (I say that because anyone that kills unarmed citizens instead of fighting the military of those people are cowards). On the other hand, the actions he has taken while in office extend an olive branch to all citizens of the world, even those that don't like us or our policies.
What really greatens the risk of another terrorist attack is doing what the previous administration did. We should not be torturing anyone for information. If it is a procedure that if done to our soldiers, airmen, and seamen, would be considered torture, then it's torture! The test is that if you would consider it torture if done to you, then it's torture! This not only infuriates our terrrorist coward enemies, but the muslims that weren't our enemies.
Ask the Brits and others around the world, cowardice acts of terrorism cannot be prevented if an enemy is driven. We have to learn to live with it in terrorism and try to strengthen our borders and immigration policies to help minimize the opportunities for it to happen.
it is the other way around, we are a lot safer now that dick isn't in any power, him, bush and their henchmen welcomed a target for more frequent attacks with their foreign policies and overall arrogance.
Please the Bush/Cheney all they did was raise the fear factor every hour on the hour. Former Vice President Cheney is the worst for suggesting any action by President Obama.
Please Vice President Cheney just go away!
If anyone studies the comments of many of these radical
Muslims, you would know that they are not reasonable. They
look at death as a reward and holy deed. If tthese radicals ever obatain a "nuke" they will use it , guaranteed!!!!!! Reason is not something they possess.
Why are we even asking this man any questions such as these. The only thing he did for sure as VP is that his company got most of the businwss in Iraq. Ask him if his company Halbirton made any money off of the war rhat he and Bush orcharstrated. He should be where Liddy is in jail.
It is my opinion there is just cause to evoke a war crimes tribunal and charge both George W. Bush and Dick Cheney with crimes against humanity.
I want our US values back: to follow the Geneva convention, to use the proper army manual when treating prisoners, and yes, there is risk involved.
After 9/11, someone said the most important thing for us was keep following our values, that the rest of the world needed us to do that, and we didn't, and the world didn't like us as much as before.
Last time I checked Obama has been at work every day instead of being on vacation one out of three days like W was.
Garden Grove, CA
Perhaps the Red Cross could check the welfare of the hostages
taken by Al Qaeda. Oh wait! They were all beheaded. As would
be the Red Cross representatives. We Americans are sooo uncivilized.
Sorry hot heads – the man is probably correct, like him or not.
We haven't been attacked in nearly 8 years since 9/11. Let's hope Obama and the Hope Brigade can keep it that way. Funny for people to throw out comments who know absolutely nothing about what goes on when it comes to intelligence information. Bush had his fair share of f-ups, but we haven'e been attacked since 9/11, so at least give him credit for that. Personally, I don't care if they beat up the guys they captured that were TRYING TO KILL OUR SOLDIERS. Anyone else think Geithner is in WAY over his head? I'm just glad I'm relatively young and have time to have my 401k bounce back.
We can not allow these prisoners to have the same freedoms as normal convicts. They only understand one thing. Innocent lives do not mean anything to them.
They need to fear us. We should not play nice with them it only shows weakness & that's what they are looking for "weakness"
Sharon – that's not the point. The point is that the United States of America is more than a collection of geographic regions joined by a common government. It is a country of ideas and ideals. When we sacrifice all of what makes our country what it is in return for the unprovable promise of safety, then what are we?
Or, as my mother would say, say what we mean and do what we say.
It is so sad that Mr. Cheney and the GOP only know how to deliver a fear-based message. The terrorists have already won indirectly because they knew we Americans would spend every last dime to fight them, imploding our economy for years to come. Sadly, Mr. Cheney has nothing else to hold on to because his administration was such an embarrassment, that they can't speak on any other platform besides FEAR. The manipulation no longer works, Mr. Cheney.
P.s. If Mr. Cheney was so proud of the men and women who serve our country, why wouldn't he allow the press to honor them in photographs? President Obama made the right decision to allow us to feel the pain and the sacrifices being made abroad by letting us see the dead and the wounded.
Julie from New York City
We better be careful we're not playing politics here. Sure Cheney is unpopular or worse, but his track record, 0 terrorist attacks on US soil, is all that matters. I hope the current administration is considering Cheney's input, and double checking their assumptions. I'd hate for our safety to become a political issue, which is what Obama made it.
if cheney refuses to get outta the lime light maybe we should provide him useful position with the personell at aig that think they are entitled to bonuses,maybe he can give guided hunting tours and let their topic be "how dangerous obama is for the country"
Hey America: Wake Up. You might think you know whats going on but you're blinded be smooth talk. Mark my words you'll see.
Ralph