Obama making U.S. less safe, Cheney says
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/02/04/art.cheney.gi.jpg caption="Cheney said the Obama administration's policies are making the country less safe."]
(CNN) - The Obama administration's new policies on Guantanamo Bay prison and the treatment of detainees makes it more likely a terrorist attack against the United States will succeed, former Vice President Dick Cheney said Tuesday.
In an interview with Politico, the former vice president issued a stringent defense of the Bush administration's record on the war on terror, and said he worries the President Obama has already made the country more vulnerable.
Earlier: Cheney: Bush should have pardoned Libby
“When we get people who are more concerned about reading the rights to an Al Qaeda terrorist than they are with protecting the United States against people who are absolutely committed to do anything they can to kill Americans, then I worry,” Cheney said in the interview published Wednesday.
Cheney also predicted the Obama administration is likely to backtrack on its pledge to end coercive interrogation techniques, since the protection of the United States from terrorists is a "tough, mean, dirty, nasty business.”
"These are evil people. And we’re not going to win this fight by turning the other cheek," he said.
The blunt comments come two weeks after President Obama issued executive orders that will close Guantanamo Bay within a year, and shut down secret CIA prisons abroad. Obama also signed an executive order calling on U.S. personnel to follow the Army Field Manual's guidelines when it comes to interrogation.
Related: What's next for Guantanamo Bay detainees?
In the interview, Cheney suggested Obama was irresponsibly adhering to “campaign rhetoric,” and called Guantanamo Bay a “first-class program.”
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I could care less what Cheney has to say about anything anymore.
after only reading the headline I am already disgusted by the story
SHUT UP!
the only things that has made us less safe are Cheney,Bush and our poor excuses for supporting a cancer like Israel
Cheney is one sick SOB.
Yeah, spoken from the Prince of Peace. Cheney is a joke.
He torpedoed our Constitution and put us on the same level as Nazis in Germany. Thanks Cheney, but no thanks for your advice.
On this I very much agree. Bush and Cheney have had military experience and we cannot go around babying terrorists. Wether you agree or not, ask me if I care. Babying those people only shows a sign of weakness, not strength.
Who is listening to Cheney! 8 years of the Bush/Cheney administration has bankrupt this country into a mini-Depression. Closing Guantanamo Bay is the right thing.
Cheney shut up please. Now you want to come from behind the scenes and dictate. Go back to sleep old man. We won't be governed by fear.
Thanks, Dick. Appreciate it. Now go away. I'm pretty sure you're not worried about what you're going to have for dinner, or how long one pot roast will feed four people. The terrorists don't scare me anymore - my checkbook took over that function.
Strong words coming from a man who probably has done the most to make America less safe through flawed policy decisions.
Shut this criminal up, he is obsolete and has been wrong about everything that has come out of his mouth. The only thing the majority of Americans want to hear from him is a confession of his crimes.
Yeah you terrorist Cheney, if you're planning another attack then yeah it's going to happen! I'm sure you're itching for it!!
Sounds like Cheney hasn't checked back into the Reality Based Society yet.
In my opinion, Cheney was the worst VP of the United States ever. He and Bush did more to hurt our standing in the world by starting wars against countries that had nothing to do with 9/11, by not overseeing the waste on rebuilding Iraq (although he did a good job of helping his friends at Haliburton, etc.), by destroying the economy of the United States, and by putting in a puppet president so he could be the wizard behind the scenes. He is the last person who should be telling Obama how to do his job.
Cheney is a crook, a murderer, a nut job, and a COMPLETE nobody anymore, like palin he should shut up and go away. If he thinks Obama cares what he says he is out of his MIND! Cheney giving advice to OUR NEW PRES, is like Paris Hilton giving advise to Obama, they are both unqualified to give ANYONE advice. Its a JOKE
Dr. Strangelove, please just go away. Your narrow views and abuses of power hurt our nation by dragging it into the shadows for eight long years. It is time to take back the high road.
Mr. Cheney should leave running the gov't to people who know how to run the gov't. For the first time in eight years, I have the confidence and, dare I say, "faith", in our executive branch (which includes the VP) to know what they're doing.
Dick Cheney is irrelevant!
What a sad pathetic man!
HOW DARE HE BESMIRCH AND IMPUNE THE ABILITIES OF THE ALMIGHTY ENLIGHTENED ONE!!!!!!!!!!!!! Besides, why should we worry, that bastion of liberty, and friend of Marines everywhere, Frank Murtha, believes the Gitmo terrorists...I mean unrightfully detained innocents would be perfectly fine in his state. Maybe he could get them some guest shots on "The Office"? Aw man, imagine that hillarity that would ensure with a dialogue between one of them, Michael, and Dwight. HILARIOUS!!!!!
The same old fear-mongering. Same old rationale, same old BS that got the Republicans soundly kicked out of office. Cheney, you are no longer in play and putting the old recordings on replay is not going to make you any more relevant than you already are...which is not at all. Get that wheel chair up on the front porch, or at least the rocker, and just watch the sun setting on the days of yore with a drink and some humble pie.
Why isn't this guy being tried for war crimes?
Why is he talking and why are WE paying attention?
He has had a hand in bringing this country to the place it is right now.
For that he should be banished.
CHENEY CONTRADICTS HIMSELF. IF IN FACT ALL SECURITY MEASURES WERE IN PLACE DURING THE PAST 8 YEARS AS THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION CLAIMS THEY SHOULD STILL BE IN TACT, THEY SPENT ENOUGH TAX PAYERS MONEY. CHENEY IS A WAR CRIMINAL AND IS IN FACT A EVIL PERSON AND RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ENEMIES WE NOW HAVE. OBAMA IS ATTEMPTING TO UNDO THE DAMAGE CHENEY AND BUSH MADE AS THEY ATTEMPT TO JUSTIFY THEIR ERRORS.
Mr.Cheney 9-11 happened on who's watch?