Cheney hammers 'afraid' Obama on national security
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/10/22/art.cheney1.gi.jpg caption="Cheney received the Center for Security Policy's Keeper of the Flame award Wednesday night ."]
(CNN) - After a summer in which Dick Cheney dialed back his attacks on President Obama's national security polices, the former vice president told a conservative gathering Wednesday that the Obama administration had damaged America's relationship with key allies, dangerously wavered in Afghanistan, undermined progress in Iraq, and intentionally sabotaged the Bush administration's national security legacy.
In the hard-hitting and wide-ranging speech at Center for Security policy, Cheney targeted the new administration's decision-making process on how to proceed in Afghanistan, saying Obama has failed to give troops on the ground a clear mission or defined goals, and appeared "afraid to make a decision."
"The White House must stop dithering while America's armed forces are in danger," Cheney said. "Make no mistake, signals of indecision out of Washington hurt our allies and embolden our adversaries."
Cheney also targeted White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, who suggested to CNN's John King on "State of the Union" on Sunday that the previous administration had failed to adequately assess conditions in Afghanistan before committing troops there.
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If Bush/Cheney would have "stayed the course" and focused on Afghanistan originally instead of getting a thrill at taking out Iraq we would have won or wouldn't be talking about this now.
Cheney you are just trying to blame your failings on Obama.
Chenny should be in prison. He and Bush made the mess that we are in now. They were in power 9 months prior to 911, but they brag that they kept us safe. Chenny is a man filled with hate and has done nothing to help America.
Cheney the traitor is emboldening the enemy every time he opens his mouth in public.
Evil man. And he belongs in jail. No other words.
Cheney is 100% right.
Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering.
Cheney's nickname of "Darth Vader" is well deserved...
Well – let's face it – he's right. I am a Dem but agree with every word. I feel less safe under Obama – and I didn't think that was even possible.
Go away angry old man, you had your 8 years to screw things up now go away, we don't care what you or your daughter think!!!!!
Wise words from a wise man. The current administration cannot blame anyone but themselves for their complete lack of direction. Time to stop campaigning and get to work, Pres. Obama.
Are you kidding me? I think many people would thing that the Bush -Cheney strategy after 9/11 lacked any real direction. Can't he just get a job as a greeter at Walmart and leave us all laone?
Frankly, I'll take our thoughtful, steady President any day over the fear mongering, war crazy, world domination proponent Dick Cheney.
A good sign that President Obama is on the right track is when people like this looser criticize his actions. He should be happy he's still free.
He should be wearing an orange jump suit making road gravel from large rocks
I wish Dick would just go away. It's like his time in office was just perfect. Hey Dick, look around. This country continues to suffer because of the 8 years you held office. Go off and dither yourself somewhere. I'm sick of hearing your whiny voice.
Jesus god. Just go away already. YOU already did your damage to us.
He's not afraid he's taking the war to them. He has his intelligence all over them. Unfortunately he does not have the facts on his side. Boy that FOX news is lucky.
How can Cheney still defend the mess Bush and he left us with? Why do we still have to hear from him? He's starting to get on my nerves as much as that Palin character. When will they go away like Bush did.
Cheney, maybe he should follow your lead, like you did with Fallujah in the Summer-Winter of 2004, and hold off the offensive until AFTER the elections. Meanwhile hundreds of US casualties mounted because of your indecision.
Why are we taking our cues on military strategy from Cheney? A guy who couldn't win in Iraq or Afghanistan?
Cheney's strategy is to bully and kill other people as long as he and others like him don't have to serve in the military. Remember-he had a record 5 deferments and didn't serve because he "had other priorities."
Does Cheney think it improves our image when there is such division and infighting in our government? Does he think it makes us look any stronger or more forceful when he's out there attacking our commander in chief?
Someone get this guy a muzzle. If Obama was half the heartless jerk that Cheney was, Cheney and all his conservative liar buddies would be sitting in a jail cell right now.
Obama is a very dangerous man. He will destroy America and it will take us years and years to get back on the right track.
Evil Dick, crawl back to the hole you came from, remember the "we will be greeted as liberators", "the insurgency is in it's last throws", WMD, etc this guy should be tried for war crimes.
This is set up so the Democrats will be afraid to investigate this lunitic for crimes committed during the past administration.
In related news, my neighbor who has double the national approval rating of Cheney told pesky kids to get off his lawn. In stark contrast to Cheney, my neighbor knew what he was talking about and there were in fact kids on his lawn.
What Mr. Cheney calls 'dithering' is what I call 'consideration'.
Who would know more about 'damaging America's relationship with key allies' than Mr. Cheney.
Maybe is more time had been taken 'dithering' in the Bush administration, President Obama would not now have to be put into such difficult decision-making.
Any cooments from Dick Chenney about the Obama administrations
policies is like the pot calling the kettle black. He should crawl back under his rock!