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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I can only speak for one American and that is myself. I am so glad I have a President who "dithers" rather than one who invades a country under false pretenses and on an impulse. I would rather he dither than have us lose our children to a non-winnable cause. Which in turn makes me so happy Cheney (the war monger and fear spreader) is no longer part of any administration.
Cheney needs to shut his trap. He also needs to be prosecuted for violation of international law.
Cheney is one SMART guy! He's spot on w/ his description of Obama. Obama was not qualified to be President and his naivite' has hurt this country tremendously, from our brave soldiers to everyday wworking families...it's time to HOPE for a change in 2012!
Cheney don't know what he talking about...Obama's trying to put together a good plan to end this billion dollar war on terror/nothing Bush never fixed or completed.
Dick Cheney – a person of little or no consequence. He is about as important as Glen Beck which is to say....not at all.
PS-It is now 9 months into Obama's term and there has been no big terrorist attack on our soil. That's more than I can say for you and your administration, Mr. Cheney.
Takes a lot of courage for a draft dodger to imply the President is afraid to deploy more troops. Fear didn't have a thing to do with Bush and Cheney sending troops into the current quagmires. Blame that on plain old weak mindedness, greed, and a complete disregard for the American service member. We should never send our troops into elective conflicts. Cheney dodged our previous elective conflict (Vietnam), he has no right to comment on the current one, unless it's to apologize to the 4500+ dead American service members killed so far in Iraq
Chaney belongs in Prision for the illegal stuff he did.
This guy is a cold blooded reptile. Squash him !
Mr. Cheney: You and Bush got us into this mess in the first place. You started it and failed to finish it! Why don't you go off somewhere with George and waterboard each other!
How can a general know how many troops he needs until a specific goal is decided? Almost every general never has enough troops. Look at Cheney's goals for Iraq.
1. Our goal is to get rid of WMD's
2. Oh, wait a minute, there are no WMD's so our goal is to get Saddam?
3. Oh wait, we have Saddam, let's get into nation building.
Number 3 is what he wanted all along, but could not reveal that to the American people, because that is wrong.
Big talk from a chickenhawk!
Still recreating reality in his own image, it seems
As long as Cheney is upset with how Obama is handling world affairs, I sleep very well at night.
If Cheney were to ever say he approved of anything Obama did, THAT would worry me.
This guy needs to GO AWAY. He had eight years to do his damage, it's over Dick. Turn out the lights, the party's over...
Shooter sure is overly-protective of his "presidential" legacy.
HE LIES
For a well educated man – Obama is pretty stupid. Book smarts no common sense, pretty typical, except this man is trying to run the country and is in way over his head without a clue how to fix things. Bailing out Unions isn't the answer, that will only bankrupt the country further. Spending money we don't have is beyond ignorant.
Wrong wrong and wrong. What success did Dick Cheney EVER have national security wise that would lead one to think his opinion is valuable now? I really think Obama deserved to get the Nobel Peace Prize. Just for booting this loser out of office and unwinding his idiotic policies, he's done more for world peace than any other living human possibly could.
Five times deferred, no memeber of Cheney's family served, he obviously likes the idea of seeing the young handsome men and pretty ladies return to the US in body bags. Why the anxiety to rush these men to satisfy the neo cons appetite. The blistering remarks not working Dickey boy, be still ,quiet you heart and just go away .
Not everyone has the courage of a Vietnam War Draft Dodger.
I wonder if Dick Cheney would be 'afraid' of some water-boarding?
I love my President. He is the best ever!!!
I find this man's statement that the President is "afraid" appalling from someone who used every deferment possible when it was his time to serve his country in a capacity other than from behind a desk. This man gets no respect from me, a veteran of the Vietnam era.
I wish he would go away! Your 15 minutes is up Mr. Cheney....You guys had EIGHT years to get this right and didn't...now you want him to do it in 10 months?? You are just jealous.
I think it's funny that he warns about America looking weak and divided by accusing the commander-in-chief of looking afraid and conflicted...Because that just screams unity at the rest of the world