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Transcript: CNN Interview with Cheney
We've just received the transcript for Vice President Cheney's interview with Wolf Blitzer this morning. It's posted in full below the fold.
Q And joining us now, the Vice President of the United States, Dick Cheney. Mr. Vice President, thanks very much for doing this.
THE VICE PRESIDENT: It's good to see you again, Wolf.
Q We heard the President mention Osama bin Laden last night in his State of the Union address. Why can't you find this guy?
THE VICE PRESIDENT: Well, obviously, he's well hidden. We've been looking for him for some time. I think the fact is he's gone totally to ground. He doesn't communicate, except, perhaps, by courier. He's not up on the air. He's not putting out videos, the way he did oftentimes in the past.
Q His number two, Ayman al Zawahiri is --
THE VICE PRESIDENT: Zawahiri is much, much more visible. Yes.
Q I mean, he's on television almost as much as I am.
THE VICE PRESIDENT: Well, I don't know if anybody is on as much as you are, Wolf -- but he's more of a public figure than Osama is. If you've ever been in that part of the world, it is some of the most rugged territory imaginable. I've flown over it, been on the ground in Afghanistan, Pakistan, up along the Khyber Pass and so forth. And that general area is a remarkably difficult area to get people into -- parts of it have never really been controlled by anybody.
Q Is bin Laden still alive?
THE VICE PRESIDENT: I think so.
Q And do you think he's in Pakistan, Afghanistan, on the border someplace?
THE VICE PRESIDENT: I don't want to be that precise.
Q Because this is so frustrating to so many people, more than five years after 9/11 -- not only that bin Laden is out there, but that his deputy pops up every now and then on television and makes these threats.
THE VICE PRESIDENT: Yes, but look what we have done. We have not gotten Osama bin Laden, obviously, because he's very careful and, say, he doesn't communicate and he's not sort of in direct contact on a regular basis. But we've taken out several times that whole layer of leadership underneath Osama bin Laden and Zawahiri. One of the most dangerous jobs in the world is to be number three in the al Qaeda organization, because a lot of them are now dead or in custody. So we've done a lot of damage to that senior leadership, including Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and many others, as well, too.
Q The criticism is that you took your eye off the ball by going into Iraq and, in effect, reducing the focus of attention on al Qaeda and bin Laden.
THE VICE PRESIDENT: It's just not true. I've heard that charge; it's simply not true, Wolf. The fact of the matter is we can do more than one thing at a time, and we have. And we've been very successful with going after al Qaeda. They're still out there, they're still a formidable force, but they're not nearly as formidable as they once were in terms of numbers and so forth. We have successfully defended the country for over five years against any further attacks.
They've tried, we know, repeatedly -- the President talked about it last night in his speech -- we know they tried last summer to capture airliners coming out of the U.K. and to blow them up over the United States or over the Atlantic. There have been numerous attacks that have been disrupted. It's been a remarkable performance by the U.S. military, by our intelligence services and everything else.
If you had asked shortly after 9/11 what the odds were that we could go better than five years without another attack on the homeland, I don't think anybody would have been willing to take that bet. The fact is, we've been enormously successful in that regard. We still, obviously, want to get Osama bin Laden and Zawahiri, but we've had great success against al Qaeda.
Q Here's what the President said last night:
"We could expect an epic battle between Shia extremists backed by Iran and Sunni extremists aided by al Qaeda and supporters of the old regime. A contagion of violence could spill out across the country and, in time, the entire region could be drawn into the conflict. For America, this is a nightmare scenario."
He was talking about the consequences of failure in Iraq. How much responsibility do you have, though -- do you and the administration for this potential scenario?
THE VICE PRESIDENT: Well, you know, this is a argument that there wouldn't be any problem if we hadn't gone into Iraq. Now --
Q Saddam Hussein would still be in power.
THE VICE PRESIDENT: Saddam Hussein would still be in power. He would, at this point, be engaged in a nuclear arms race with Ahmadinejad, his blood enemy next door in Iran --
Q But he was being contained as we all know --
THE VICE PRESIDENT: He was not being contained. He was not being contained, Wolf.
Q -- by the no-fly zones in the north and the south.
THE VICE PRESIDENT: Wolf, the entire sanctions regime had been undermined by Saddam Hussein. He had --
Q But he didn't have stockpiles of weapons of --
THE VICE PRESIDENT: -- corrupted the entire effort to try to keep him contained. He was bribing senior officials of other governments. The oil-for-food program had been totally undermined, and he had, in fact, produced and used weapons of mass destruction previously, and he retained the capability to produce that kind of stuff in the future.
Q But that was in the '80s.
THE VICE PRESIDENT: You can go back and argue the whole thing all over again, Wolf, but what we did in Iraq in taking down Saddam Hussein was exactly the right thing to do; the world is much safer today because of it. There have been three national elections in Iraq, there's a democracy established there, a constitution, a new democratically elected government, Saddam has been brought to justice and executed, his sons are dead, his government is gone and the world is better off for it.
Now, you can argue about that all you want, but that's history, that's what we did. And you and I can have this debate -- we've had it before -- but the fact of the matter is, in terms of threats to the United States from al Qaeda, for example, attacks on the United States, they didn't need an excuse. We weren't in Iraq when they hit us on 9/11.
Q But the current situation there is --
THE VICE PRESIDENT: But the fact of the matter was -- the fact of the matter was that al Qaeda was out to kill Americans before we ever went into Iraq.
Q The current situation there is very unstable.
THE VICE PRESIDENT: It is.
Q The President himself speaks about a nightmare scenario right now. He was contained, as you repeatedly said throughout the '90s, after the first Gulf War, in a box, Saddam Hussein.
THE VICE PRESIDENT: Well, he was after the first Gulf War -- had managed -- he kicked out all the inspectors. He was providing payments to the families of suicide bombers. He was a safe haven for terror, was one of the prime state sponsors of terror, as designated by our State Department, for a long time. He'd started two wars. He had violated 16 U.N. Security Council resolutions. If he were still there today, we'd have a terrible situation. Today, instead --
Q But there is a terrible situation.
THE VICE PRESIDENT: No, there is not. There is not. There's problems, ongoing problems, but we have, in fact, accomplished our objectives of getting rid of the old regime, and there is a new regime in place that's been there for less than a year, far too soon for you guys to write them off. They have got a democratically written constitution, first ever in that part of the world. They've had three national elections. So there's been a lot of success.
Q How worried are you --
THE VICE PRESIDENT: We still have more work to do to get a handle on the security situation, but the President has put a plan in place to do that.
Q How worried are you of this nightmare scenario, that the U.S. is building up this Shiite-dominated Iraqi government with an enormous amount of military equipment, sophisticated training, and then in the end, they're going to turn against the United States?
THE VICE PRESIDENT: Wolf, that's not going to happen. The problem that you've got --
Q Very -- very -- warming up to Iran and Syria right now.
THE VICE PRESIDENT: Wolf, you can come up with all kinds of what-ifs. You've got to deal with the reality on the ground. The reality on the ground is, we've made major progress, we've still got a lot of work to do. There are a lot of provinces in Iraq that are relatively quiet. There's more and more authority transferred to the Iraqis all the time.
But the biggest problem we face right now is the danger that the United States will validate the terrorist strategy, that, in fact, what will happen here with all of the debate over whether or not we ought to stay in Iraq, with the pressures from some quarters to get out of Iraq, if we were to do that, we would simply validate the terrorists' strategy that says the Americans will not stay to complete the task --
Q Here's the Nouri al Maliki --
THE VICE PRESIDENT: -- that we don't have the stomach for the fight.
Q Here's the problem.
THE VICE PRESIDENT: That's the biggest threat right now.
Q Here's the problem that I see, and tell me if I'm wrong -- that he seems to be more interested right now, the Prime Minister of Iraq, in establishing good relations with Iran and Syria than he is with moderate Arab governments, whether in Jordan or Egypt or Saudi Arabia.
THE VICE PRESIDENT: I just think you're wrong, Wolf. He's been working with all of them. They're all in the neighborhood. He's got to develop relationships with all of them, and he is.
Q Because he's a Shia, and these moderate Arab governments are Sunni.
THE VICE PRESIDENT: He's also an Iraqi. He's not a Persian. There's a big difference between the Persians and the Arabs, although they're both Shia. You can't just make the simple statement that he's Shia, therefore he's the enemy. The majority of the population in Iraq is Shia. And for the first time, we've had elections, and majority rule will prevail there. But the notion that somehow the effort hasn't been worth it, or that we shouldn't go ahead and complete the task, is just dead wrong.
Q Here's what Jim Webb, senator from Virginia, said in his Democratic response last night. He said:
"The President took us into the war recklessly. We are now, as a nation, held hostage to the predictable and predicted disarray that has followed."
And it's not just Jim Webb, it's some of your good Republican friends in the Senate and the House, are now seriously questioning your credibility because of the blunders, of the failures. All right, Gordon Smith --
THE VICE PRESIDENT: Wolf, Wolf, I simply don't accept the premise of your question. I just think it's hogwash. Remember --
Q What, that there were no blunders? The President himself says there were blunders --
THE VICE PRESIDENT: Remember, remember me -- remember with me what happened in Afghanistan. The United States was actively involved in Afghanistan in the '80s supporting the effort against the Soviets. The Mujahideen prevailed, everybody walked away. And in Afghanistan, within relatively short order, the Taliban came to power, they created a safe haven for al Qaeda, training camps were established where some 20,000 terrorists trained in the late '90s. And out of that, out of Afghanistan, because we walked away and ignored it, we had the attack on the USS Cole, the attack on the embassies in East Africa, and 9/11, where the people trained and planned in Afghanistan for that attack and killed 3,000 Americans. That is what happens when we walk away from a situation like that in the Middle East.
Now you might have been able to do that before 9/11. But after 9/11, we learned that we have a vested interest in what happens on the ground in the Middle East. Now, if you are going to walk away from Iraq today and say, well, gee, it's too tough, we can't complete the task, we just are going to quit, you'll create exactly that same kind of situation again.
Now, the critics have not suggested a policy. They haven't put anything in place. All they want to do, all they've recommended is to redeploy or to withdraw our forces. The fact is, we can complete the task in Iraq. We're going to do it. We've got Petraeus -- General Petraeus taking over. It is a good strategy. It will work. But we have to have the stomach to finish the task.
Q What if the Senate passes a resolution saying, this is not a good idea. Will that stop you?
VICE PRESIDENT CHENEY: It won't stop us, and it would be, I think detrimental from the standpoint of the troops, as General Petraeus said yesterday. He was asked by Joe Lieberman, among others, in his testimony, about this notion that somehow the Senate could vote overwhelmingly for him, send him on his new assignment, and then pass a resolution at the same time and say, but we don't agree with the mission you've been given.
Q So you're moving forward no matter what the consequences?
VICE PRESIDENT CHENEY: We are moving forward. We are moving forward. The Congress has control over the purse strings. They have the right, obviously, if they want, to cut off funding. But in terms of this effort, the President has made his decision. We've consulted extensively with them. We'll continue to consult with the Congress. But the fact of the matter is, we need to get the job done. I think General Petraeus can do it. I think our troops can do it. And I think it's far too soon for the talking heads on television to conclude that it's impossible to do, it's not going to work, it can't possibly succeed.
Q What was the biggest mistake you made?
VICE PRESIDENT CHENEY: Oh, I think in terms of mistakes, I think we underestimated the extent to which 30 years of Saddam's rule had really hammered the population, especially the Shia population, into submissiveness. It was very hard for them to stand up and take responsibility in part because anybody who had done that in the past had had their heads chopped off.
Q Do you trust Nouri al Maliki?
VICE PRESIDENT CHENEY: I do. At this point, I don't have any reason not to trust him.
Q Is he going to go after Muqtada al Sadr, this anti-American --
VICE PRESIDENT CHENEY: I think --
Q -- Shiite cleric who controls the Mahdi army?
VICE PRESIDENT CHENEY: I think he has demonstrated -- I think he has demonstrated a willingness to take on any elements that violate the law.
Q Do you want him to arrest Muqtada al Sadr?
VICE PRESIDENT CHENEY: He has been -- he has been active just in recent weeks in going after the Mahdi army. There have been some 600 of them arrested within the last couple of days.
Q Should he be arrested, Muqtada al Sadr?
VICE PRESIDENT CHENEY: That's a decision that's got to be made --
Q Because as you know, the first U.S. general there, Ricardo Sanchez, said, this guy killed Americans, he has blood on his hands, he was wanted, basically, dead or alive. Whatever happened to that?
VICE PRESIDENT CHENEY: Wolf, you've got to let Nouri al Maliki deal with the situation as he sees fit. And I think he will.
Q Do you think he's going to go after the Mahdi army?
VICE PRESIDENT CHENEY: I think he will go after all of those elements in Iraq that are violating the law, that are contributing to sectarian violence. They're criminal elements, they're Baathist former regime elements. All of them have to be the target of the effort. He'll have a lot of help, because he'll have 160,000 U.S. forces there to work alongside the Iraqis to get the job done.
Q Here's the problem that you have -- the administration -- credibility in Congress with the American public, because of the mistakes, because of the previous statements, the last throes, the comment you made a year-and-a-half ago, the insurgency was in its last throes. How do you build up that credibility because so many of these Democrats, and a lot of Republicans now are saying they don't believe you anymore?
VICE PRESIDENT CHENEY: Well, Wolf, if the history books were written by people who have -- are so eager to write off this effort, to declare it a failure, including many of our friends in the media, the situation obviously would have been over a long time ago. Bottom line is that we've had enormous successes, and we will continue to have enormous successes. It is hard. It is difficult. It's one of the toughest things any President has to do. It's easy to stick your finger in the air and figure out which way the winds are blowing and then try to get in front of the herd. This President doesn't work that way. He also -- be very clear in terms of providing leadership going forward for what we need to do in Iraq.
Now, fact is, this is a vitally important piece of business. It needs to be done. The consequences of our not completing the task are enormous. Just think for a minute -- and think for a minute, Wolf, in terms of what policy is being suggested here. What you're recommending, or at least what you seem to believe the right course is, is to bail out --
Q I'm just asking questions.
VICE PRESIDENT CHENEY: No, you're not asking questions.
Q Yes, I am. I'm just asking --
VICE PRESIDENT CHENEY: Implicit -- implicit -- implicit in the critics --
Q -- your critics are --
VICE PRESIDENT CHENEY: Implicit in what the critics are suggesting, I think, is an obligation to say, well, here's what we need to do, or we're not going to do anything else. We're going to accept defeat. Defeat is not an answer. We can, in fact, prevail here, and we need to prevail. And the consequences of not doing so are enormous.
Q You've said that Iran as a nuclear power is unacceptable.
THE VICE PRESIDENT: Right.
Q Are you ready to go to war to stop that --
THE VICE PRESIDENT: Come on now, Wolf. You know I'm not going to speculate on something like that.
Q Well, how are you going to stop that?
THE VICE PRESIDENT: Wolf, we've got a policy in place that's I think producing results. We've gone to the United Nations. We've got a unanimous agreement to a sanctions resolution that's now in place with respect to the Iranian uranium program, and we're continuing to work the problem. We want -- we want to solve the problem diplomatically. We'll do everything we can to achieve that. But we've also made it clear that all options are on the table. Now, no administration in their right mind is going to answer the question you just asked.
Q Because you've heard Senator Biden, Senator Rockefeller say they think you need more congressional authorization if you're going to take any military steps against Iran. Do you?
THE VICE PRESIDENT: I'm not going to speculate on military steps, Wolf. You can ask that question all day long.
Q All right, there's a lot of good questions -- let's move on to some other domestic issues. The whole notion of your long-time aide Lewis "Scooter" Libby -- he's in the papers, his lawyer now suggesting on opening day of the trial that he was basically set up by people in the White House to protect Karl Rove, the President's political aide. What do you make of this?
THE VICE PRESIDENT: Now, Wolf, you knew when we set up the interview you can ask all the questions you want, I'm going to be a witness in that trial within a matter of weeks, I'm not going to discuss it. I haven't discussed with anybody in the press yet, I'm not going to discuss it with you today.
Q Are you -- but you've --
THE VICE PRESIDENT: Wolf, you've got my answer. You've got my answer.
Q Have you contributed to his legal defense fund?
THE VICE PRESIDENT: I am a strong friend and supporter of Scooter's. I have not contributed to the legal defense fund. I think he's an extraordinarily talented and capable individual.
Q Let's talk about illegal immigration right now because a lot of your conservative Republican base, they're upset at the President and at you for supporting a pathway to citizenship for millions of illegal immigrants right now. What do you say to them who are worried that you're going to team up with a lot of Democrats and moderate Republicans and pass this legislation?
THE VICE PRESIDENT: Well, we think we need immigration legislation passed, that it would be irresponsible for us not to try to deal with that problem. It's a serious problem. It's very important from the standpoint of the millions of illegals who are already here, from those segments of our economy that depend upon them. But it's also important that we have secure borders and that we have control over our borders. And we've done a lot already to move in that direction. We've doubled or tripled the size of the Border Patrol force in the budget. We've got border security measures adopted in the last Congress. What we need now is a temporary guest worker program, a comprehensive solution that will regulate that flow. I think we can do it. I believe that, in fact, there's sufficient support on both sides of the aisle, and I think we'll get legislation passed.
Q Do you think Hillary Clinton would make a good President?
THE VICE PRESIDENT: No, I don't.
Q Why?
THE VICE PRESIDENT: Because she's a Democrat. I don't agree with her philosophically and from a policy standpoint.
Q Do you think she will be President then?
THE VICE PRESIDENT: I don't.
Q Who do you think will be?
THE VICE PRESIDENT: I'm not going to speculate.
Q It won’t be you?
THE VICE PRESIDENT: It won't be me.
Q John McCain.
THE VICE PRESIDENT: I'm not going to speculate.
Q Been rather critical of you -- John McCain -- lately?
THE VICE PRESIDENT: Well, John is a good man. He and I have known each other a long time, and we agree on many things and disagree on others.
Q He said the other day, he said, the President listened too much to the Vice President. Of course, the President bears the ultimate responsibility, but he was very badly served by both the Vice President and most of all the Secretary of Defense. That was John McCain.
THE VICE PRESIDENT: So.
Q Want to react?
THE VICE PRESIDENT: Well, I just disagree with him.
Q He said, about the former Defense Secretary, "Rumsfeld will go down in history along with McNamara as one of the worst Secretaries of Defense" --
THE VICE PRESIDENT: I just fundamentally disagree. You heard my speech when Don retired. I think he's done a superb job.
Q We're out of time, but a couple of issues I want to raise with you. Your daughter Mary, she's pregnant. All of us are happy. She's going to have a baby. You're going to have another grandchild. Some of the -- some critics, though, are suggesting, for example, a statement from someone representing Focus on the Family:
"Mary Cheney's pregnancy raises the question of what's best for children. Just because it's possible to conceive a child outside of the relationship of a married mother and father, doesn't mean it's best for the child."
Do you want to respond to that?
THE VICE PRESIDENT: No, I don't.
Q She's obviously a good daughter --
THE VICE PRESIDENT: I'm delighted -- I'm delighted I'm about to have a sixth grandchild, Wolf, and obviously think the world of both of my daughters and all of my grandchildren. And I think, frankly, you're out of line with that question.
Q I think all of us appreciate --
THE VICE PRESIDENT: I think you're out of -- I think you're out of line with that question.
Q -- your daughter. We like your daughters. Believe me, I'm very, very sympathetic to Liz and to Mary. I like them both. That was just a question that's come up and it's a responsible, fair question.
THE VICE PRESIDENT: I just fundamentally disagree with your perspective.
Q I want to congratulate you on having another grandchild. Let's wind up on a soft note. Nancy Pelosi -- what was it like sitting up there with her last night as opposed to Dennis Hastert?
THE VICE PRESIDENT: I prefer Denny Hastert, obviously. I liked having a fellow Republican in the Speaker's chair. Nancy is now the Speaker of the House. We had a very pleasant evening.
Q But it's different to have a Democrat --
THE VICE PRESIDENT: Sure, it's different to have a -- but it's the way it has been during most of my career in Congress, so I didn't find it all that surprising or startling.
Q How do you feel?
THE VICE PRESIDENT: Good.
Q Mr. Vice President, thank you.
Comments (101)
Doginfollow wrote on January 24, 2007 2:34 PM:Wow! I didn't know Wolf had it in him.
I hope he brought lots of garlic and holy water to the interview.
OCPatriot wrote on January 24, 2007 2:35 PM:As I keep saying, the only thing these guys (Cheney especially) understand is a metphoric whack on the side of the head with a 2x4. His head needs straightening out because he is for war, more war, and even more war, killing people without end. He wants to dominate the Middle East and believes it is his right to do so. He also is aligned with "oil", that dirty word, and with those who profit from the wars, those companies that couldn't make it in a peaceful economy like Haliburton and Titan and Lockheed Martin. He is a very sick man, who keeps ignoring the reality of what he and Bush have done to Iraq and the Middle East, and he fills Bush's head with his poison. His daughter's writing is evidence of how filled she is with hatred and poison. I find it hilarious that she can have a baby out of wedlock and he is ecstatic about it; she has no husband to help with bringing the baby up, and he finds it joyful. His hypocracy is underbounding.
Fe wrote on January 24, 2007 2:39 PM:Wow! What a load of snarling defensiveness. Is the guys painted into a corner or what?
And what about the lack of civility? He doesn't even provide ANY professional recognition of congress outside of his party.
A completely shut in and isolated mind. Too much time watching pundits who have kissed WH behind.
Vince wrote on January 24, 2007 2:40 PM:Wow - can't wait to see this tonight...
Stranger wrote on January 24, 2007 2:43 PM:My, my. Shooter's a bit testy, no?
I'm surprised Blitzer lobbed the semi-harballs that he did. And Cheney's non-answers are pretty revealing, IMO.
He's gone, and soon.
Bruce/Crablaw wrote on January 24, 2007 2:44 PM:Dick Cheney has a massive amount to answer for, and may deserve prison time, but what some mullah over at Focus on the Family has to say about his daughter's family status is not among them.
I think the question is unrelated to his duties as Vice-President of the United States. Mary Cheney is not an employee of the executive branch. The question is out of line.
yugan wrote on January 24, 2007 2:48 PM:neat! thats a nice little act by wolf. standin up to the veep, in a way. good one.
Dungheap wrote on January 24, 2007 2:49 PM:"One of the most dangerous jobs in the world is to be number three in the al Qaeda organization, because a lot of them are now dead or in custody."
Isn't that convenient? They can't get Osama (but presumably Cheney knows where he is but "doesn't want to be that precise") and they can't get Zawahiri, the two Al Qaeda leaders that most people pay attention know about, but the number three man in Al Qaeda is always, conveniently, aprehended.
I wish Wolf Would have asked who the current number three man in Al Qaeda is. That way, when the next "number three" turns up we'll know that, in fact, they are completely full if it.
Bearpaw wrote on January 24, 2007 2:52 PM:How long before Wolf brings up the R-word or the I-word in one of these interviews? 'Cause sure as hell nobody over at Faux ever will.
ohiomeister wrote on January 24, 2007 2:54 PM:Dick Cheney is the most despicable politician in a generation.
If Iraq is such an enormous success, I'd hate to see a failure.
Once again, he elides terrorism with Iraq, and just can't bring himself to level with the American people. Just admit to your dark neo-con fantasy ideology, Dick, rather than continually lying to us and trying to pull the wool over everyone's eyes. That game is over. You lost.
Really reminds me of Wolf's similar interview with his wife, Lynne Cheney. They both hate Wolf, hate CNN, probably hate all journalists, and insinuate that they are anti-American for trying to ask tough questions. Total BS, a real vulgarity.
Wolf is also "out of line" for asking for a response to Focus on the Family, who put out a press release very personally criticizing Cheney's own daughter? Please.
The one who is out of line and entirely dishonorable is Cheney for treating his daughter as if she disordered or the skeleton in the family closet and for not coming to his daughter's defense. Instead, he was all too content to continue relying on Focus on the Family for electoral support.
Crust wrote on January 24, 2007 2:55 PM:Re Number 3: I had the same thought as you, Dungheap. I mean it's a comedian's laugh line that the most dangerous job in the world is Al Qaeda's Number 3. Anytime we get someone in Al Qaeda, he's posthumously declared number 3.
...Crust wrote on January 24, 2007 2:56 PM:Meanwhile, the charming Ana Marie Cox at the aptly named Swampland wishes Cheney had brought his shotgun to the interview. See...
D. wrote on January 24, 2007 2:57 PM:I think asking the VP about his daughter's pregnancy is a legitimate question. Especially, since they've been in bed with the Focus on the Family group who adamently opposes Gay/Lesbian parenthood.
SBG wrote on January 24, 2007 2:57 PM:That takes a lot of gall to accept their money, support on one hand while they openly criticized his daughter on the other.
Let's wind up on a soft note. Nancy Pelosi -- what was it like sitting up there with her last night as opposed to Dennis Hastert?
THE VICE PRESIDENT: I prefer Denny Hastert, obviously. I liked having a fellow Republican in the Speaker's chair. Nancy is now the Speaker of the House. We had a very pleasant evening.
This says it all about Cheney. He can hardly spit out a civil word about anyone that isn't aligned with him.
Pinson wrote on January 24, 2007 2:58 PM:Two lines that show just how nutso Cheney really is:
1. "One of the most dangerous jobs in the world is to be number three in the al Qaeda organization, because a lot of them are now dead or in custody."
Believe your own ridiculous spin much?
2. THE VICE PRESIDENT: Well, he was after the first Gulf War -- had managed -- he kicked out all the inspectors.
Of course, the UN inspectors got out in 2003 right before the invasion because they were warned by the administration that the bombing was about to begin, not by anything Sadam did. Let's not forget, Cheney and his flaming idiot amen choir couldn't stop telling us all how incompetent the inspectors were. Wolf did a good job here, but he missed this one
Los Angeles Democrat wrote on January 24, 2007 3:01 PM:The question about Mary Cheny, the pregnant lesbian daughter of Dick Cheny, was completely in bounds. The entire Republican establishment has been on a decades long witch hunt against gay and lesbian people and Dick Cheney, and his lesbian daughter, have sat by and let it happen. EVERYTHING is fair when it comes to taking these criminals down.
Sagacity wrote on January 24, 2007 3:05 PM:The daughter that wrote the wacky column in yesterday's Washington Post is Liz, not Mary. Mary is the lesbian having a child. Liz, the one "filled with hatred and poison," is the mother of five. I'm not in favor of any Cheney procreation; this generation has done enough damage. On the other hand, who cares about any of that.
This interview is good, though, a good sign that the tv dunces have seen the light and stopped enabling these sociopaths. Though I'm sure it's just that they are reading the polls and know their ratings might be connected.
Dana Curtis Kincaid wrote on January 24, 2007 3:07 PM:As a gay/bi guy, methinks that the Shadow President doesn't REALLY think that questions about his daughter and grandkid are out of line, he just doesn't want to come down on one side or another.
It's just sad that he's being a a political hack first, and a grandfather second.
Regarding Al Qaeda's Number 3, did the Administration consider that ALL the Al Qaeda after bin Laden are really number 3? Maybe it's like naming your kid Mohammed and they like the number for some reason.
ic wrote on January 24, 2007 3:07 PM:Wolf states that there is a terrible situation in Iraq, Cheney says there is not. How is anything this man says credible? He has either lied or been completely wrong about everything related to Iraq. Don't believe anything you see or hear, just believe me....
clb72 wrote on January 24, 2007 3:08 PM:"But we've taken out several times that whole layer of leadership underneath Osama bin Laden and Zawahiri."
Why have they had to do it several times?
Apparently the "War on Terror"TM doesn't attack the problem at the root.
Bryan wrote on January 24, 2007 3:09 PM:Cheney highlights the fundamental and dangerous problem with current politics. The declaration that somebody cannot be a "good" (a moral term) office holder for the simple reason they are a democrat or a republican:
Q Do you think Hillary Clinton would make a good President?
THE VICE PRESIDENT: No, I don't.
Q Why?
THE VICE PRESIDENT: Because she's a Democrat.
Scary!
Misha wrote on January 24, 2007 3:11 PM:Payback time for when his wife came on and questioned his patriotism...thats what happened here, but its good. I wish everyone can start asking real questions man.
smartone wrote on January 24, 2007 3:15 PM:Out of bounds?? if it is out of bound for Mary Cheney then it is out of bounds to every other gay couple that wants to raise a child
DW wrote on January 24, 2007 3:18 PM:Now the VP is blaming the Iraqi people for the problems he has helped cause by saying
"...we underestimated the extent to which 30 years of Saddam's rule had really hammered the population, especially the Shia population, into submissiveness. It was very hard for them to stand up and take responsibility..."
Nice touch!
goldberry wrote on January 24, 2007 3:18 PM:Live by Focus on the Family, die by Focus on the Family. I guess it's ok for Dobson to regulate everyone else's maily/sex life but Cheney's family is off limits?
markg8 wrote on January 24, 2007 3:23 PM:Not so fast, Mr. Cheney.
CNN was blurbing it a minute ago with a clip and then a pic of Cheney next to the 7pm starting time. They couldn't have chosen a pic with a nastier sneer. He's staring right at the camera and looks like somebody's holding a full diaper under his nose.
John B Vander Horck wrote on January 24, 2007 3:24 PM:This was a great bob and weave. Congratulations!
What I wonder is when will the American people see fit to insure that people we entrust with governance, with policy decisions, and with the lives of our troops, our families, ourselves, even the life of our nation will NO Longer be able to enrich themselves in the process.
I'm sure our VICE President has explainations for his personal enrichment during this war he has so often toted. Has he given a plugged nickel to help those who ave been maimed, disfigured, or killed while he was in the counting house? Or is that somehow an illegitimate question for so August a personage. What is the death benefit these days? How does it compare with the corporate benefits derived from sub-standard body armor?
Will there be an answer forth coming or will we hear more of: "I don't like your tone", or "that's an illegitimate question", or "I'm a leader so you should follow me"?
I'm also struck by 'our vice president' dividing American's into Democrats and others. It seems that when we fight a war we are all American's and we are united. That distinction stunk like a skunk. What is it with this guy? He's making millions on the deaths or our countrymen but he has to type them into party affiliations?
Cheney appears to have feeling for the American people unless it adds to his wallet. I've heard of people with blood on their hands but this fellow citizen appears to have a wallet full of blood and a head full of delusions.
I wonder how he will stand on judgement day.
JVH
uncle toby wrote on January 24, 2007 3:25 PM:Has Cheney really "been on the ground in Afghanistan, Pakistan, up along the Khyber Pass"? This has always been a wild no-man's land, hard to believe he's been there.
JoeW wrote on January 24, 2007 3:30 PM:We'll see if the video bears it out, but I'd call that a meltdown.
Kristine Martell wrote on January 24, 2007 3:36 PM:Dick Cheney holds PUBLIC office, Bruce. The question about Mary being pregnant out of wedlock most certainly is precient for a Republican that used the very same Focus on the Family Mullah to get that office.
Whack wrote on January 24, 2007 3:45 PM:Chilling. This man is desperate in his flailing defense of the Iraq blunder. No one believes him anymore, as he trots out the Neocon line. "Enormous progress", "major successes."
BA wrote on January 24, 2007 3:46 PM:He's not delusional, he's just lying.
Cheney is right about one thing: the political winds must blow a certain way before tough questions get asked.
Aunt Deb wrote on January 24, 2007 3:48 PM:Is Cheney saying we should have occupied Afghanistan after the Soviets withdrew?? Does anyone have any idea what he's trying to say there, in that part of the interview?
Given the dangerous state of affairs in Afghanistan at this moment, I really think his statement is bizarre. I'm left thinking Cheney thinks invasion and occupation is the only foreign policy we need.
I am very interested to see this interview. Reading it is frightening. I wonder what the effect of seeing and hearing Cheney saying these unsettling and un-American things is.
ubu wrote on January 24, 2007 3:50 PM:Why did it take 6 years for the media to have a real interview with the Vice-President?
David wrote on January 24, 2007 3:51 PM:I'm so glad he is Vice-President for all the people of this great nation.
Its comforting to know that my views will not be summarily dismissed because I am a member of the "Democrat" Party.
montycantsin wrote on January 24, 2007 3:52 PM:I think my favorite part of reading the interview on the TPM site was the "Ads by Google" ad that appeared in the webpage's column immediately afterward:
"High Blood Pressure? Lower your blood pressure safely Doctor recommended."
Coincidence much? Ole' Big Time probably popped a whole handfulla Norvasc after signing off that interview.
L Boom wrote on January 24, 2007 3:55 PM:"One of the most dangerous jobs in the world is to be number three in the al Qaeda organization, because a lot of them are now dead or in custody."
Clearly, it's a whole lot more dangerous to be Number Three in Al-Qaeda than it is to be Number One or Number Two.
Geoffrey wrote on January 24, 2007 3:58 PM:What a Dick.
oldtree wrote on January 24, 2007 4:08 PM:Poor Puppy biscuit. Wolfie could have actually interviewed the dick, and dick might have fallen over dead right there with anyone asking real questions. Note that this is the only non FAUX interview the thing has granted.
get the part about what the scumbag agreed to in the interview? I hope Jack Cafferty tells us exactly what questions were off limits.
Since everything the dick says about policy is a lie, you know that the questions he won't answer are the only ones that matter.
He lied about every aspect of the Afghan and Iraqi conflicts, making up fantasy reports. He wouldn't say anything bad about the Iraq government, because he can't tell us who is really in power in Iraq. But he made it pretty darn clear didn't he? He wouldn't say a nasty thing about Sadr. So guess what folks? he has the only intelligence since they destroyed the CIA's gathering capability by outing Plame and her entire company. Sadr must be in charge. No wonder the Saudi's now want to go in.
can't wait to see this bloated bastard on trial and under oath. testifying to the truth of something is so unlikely, that he may squirt on national tv trying to maintain the big lie. He may or may not know that there are people willing to testify to his previous lying.
joec wrote on January 24, 2007 4:15 PM:Blitzer: "He's (al-Zawahiri) on television almost as much as I am."
Hal wrote on January 24, 2007 4:22 PM:Cheney: "I don't know if anyone's on television as much as you are, Wolf."
Over 3,000 American soldiers killed in Iraq, thousands more wounded, thousands of dead Iraqis, the reputation of the U.S. in a state that will need generations to recover from, if recovery is possible.
Liar or delusional?
I think liar, but the lies are so extensive and run so deep that it takes my breath away.
I have never met anyone like this. Cheney is pathological.
bo wrote on January 24, 2007 4:28 PM:Ummm, Dick? Tinkerbelle's dead. No use clapping louder.
Pigfarkio wrote on January 24, 2007 4:29 PM:Yeah! Prevarication central. These are the words of a man who knows he is in very large-sized trouble - legal, historical, generally ignominious, etc. At this point, Cheney has emerged as the world's most unconvincing, albeit prolific, liar.
You cannot save yourself, Mr. C. You are history's plaything now. And - one can only hope - the American justice system's.
yellowdogD wrote on January 24, 2007 4:32 PM:Scathing column on Liz Cheney by Larisa Alexandrovna over at Huff post. Don't know if it's linked elsewhere yet. Highly recommended.
John Eaton wrote on January 24, 2007 4:42 PM:"I don't accept your premise..." How many times do I have to hear Cheney and Perle and Dougie Feith use this dodge so they don't have to face facts.
sd wrote on January 24, 2007 4:44 PM:wow, WOW! that was the best interview i have read in a hell of a long time. wolfie brought out the guns and held his own. you can feel the steam coming off of cheney. CANNOT WAIT to watch this.
Pete wrote on January 24, 2007 4:47 PM:If Cheney invites Wolf on his next hunting trip, I recommend he politely decline.
Dan wrote on January 24, 2007 5:00 PM:Gee......could he be just a little more arrogant and cranky? Oh......I guess that question would be 'out of line' wouldn't it!!
lib4 wrote on January 24, 2007 5:14 PM:Cant wait for this one...instant Classic...
I swear these people (neo-con cabal) having been spewing the BS boilerplate talking points for so long they could recite them all in their sleep...
the fact that the remaining 28 percent of the population that is the current Repub base eats it up is what distrubs me the most...Cheney knows its BS, DEMS know its BS, some Repubs know its BS but this base in spite of evidence to the contrary cannot accept being in the wrong on this one issue......
Gotta give it Wolf for pinning down the Dick....
David S., North Hollywd., CA wrote on January 24, 2007 5:14 PM:I would say Cheney was postively Nixonian (just based on the transcript), but, come to think of it, he makes Nixon look like Mr. Geniality in comparison. This guy is just incredible.
Rob Davies wrote on January 24, 2007 5:19 PM:If this War on Terror is so important, why is Cheney always off hunting? Doesn't he have anything else to keep him busy?
penney wrote on January 24, 2007 5:24 PM:You have just read the real reason Bush would never be impeached - imagine - President Cheney.
Anonymous wrote on January 24, 2007 5:26 PM:It was still soft compared to what we regularly see in the British press. The defferential sense is right there through it all. The follow-ups just peter out when the first question is dodged or the answer is an outright lie.
Dennis wrote on January 24, 2007 5:27 PM:A few hard questions; finally!
But we still get the usual song and dance from Cheney.
You don't have to be a blind conservative not to see it, just an ignorant one to deny it.
john o. wrote on January 24, 2007 5:32 PM:Mary Cheney and her father's grotesque hypocrisy absolutely are fair game. And God help her children.
Lady Rosalind wrote on January 24, 2007 5:45 PM:Jeez that was precious! Wolf Blitzer. Who knew he had some stones? Have they been freeze drying?
Unmitigated Audacity wrote on January 24, 2007 5:47 PM:Time to impeach this black-hearted imp of the perverse. People make the mistake of thinking Cheney and Bush are stupid, incompetent and incapable of learning. Well, they are stupid, but they have been successful at accomplishing what they really desire, which is destroying Iraq as a functioning nation state. The next goal is to destroy Iran as a nation state. And truly, the ultimate over-arching goal of these guy's masters - the global neo-feudal financial elite - is the destruction of the entire nation-state system, including the U.S. Yes, secondary and tertiary goals are the looting of their victim's countries natural resources for the enrichment of their cronies. But the end-game is world dictatorship for non-governmental power centers - the global bankers, multinationals and the super rich. Our republic and millions of innocents can only be saved by removing these satanic demons from any proximity to the levers of power.
mbbsdphil wrote on January 24, 2007 6:01 PM:Anyone still wondering who's really running the White House has their answer.
Best observations. Hillary would be a bad President because she's a Democrat. And we're winning in Iraq. I thought it was Dubya who had never read the Constitution and who substituted stubborness for self-awareness.
I liked the Lieberman promo. Like a pimp keeping his honey on a leash by telling him he's the only one. The Veep seems intent on keeping him high, and keeping everything he earns. Connecticut should consider recalling him before he joins McCain as his running mate.
mbbsdphil wrote on January 24, 2007 6:09 PM:The question about Cheney's daughter, Mary, was entirely relevant. Mr. Cheney is a leading politician for a party that advocates making committed unions between gays and lesbians illegal, and whose chief religious "sic" supporters advocate taking away the children of those in such relationships.
Mary Cheney is a public figure about such issues, having been an advocate to the gay and lesbian community on behalf of noted Colorado's most visible and gay-bashing corporation, Coors Beer.
A key issue is the hypocrisy between Mr. Cheney's apparent support for his daughter, and his public opposition to everyone else like her.
DallasNE wrote on January 24, 2007 6:10 PM:The interview started out cordial enough. For awhile I even wondered why TPM bothered to post it.
And then it all changed.
If Cheney wants to know what unfair looks like he needs go no farther than this site.
http://icasualties.org/oif/
What are the consequences for not being truthful to the American people in the matters of war and peace?
And what a cheap shot for blaming President Clinton for "not containing" Saddam. Republicans cried wag the dog when Clinton bombed the crap out of Iraq. Besides, the post invasion evidence did show that Saddam was well contained in March, 2003 prior to the invasion.
Cheney did a lot of protesting of the premise of the questions Wolf asked; were the insurgents in their last throes 18 months ago? That is a question that deserves an answer.
It was very late in coming but Wolf Blitzer ate Cheney's lunch. And now is no time to let up.
saintlywife wrote on January 24, 2007 6:15 PM:"-- remember with me what happened in Afghanistan.The United States was actively involved in Afghanistan in the '80s supporting the effort against the Soviets. The Mujahideen prevailed, everybody walked away. And in Afghanistan, within relatively short order, the Taliban came to power, they created a safe haven for al Qaeda, training camps were established where some 20,000 terrorists trained in the late '90s. ..."
FYI Wolf, the perfect follow-up was:
"Yes, I remember Mr. Cheney. I remember that we supported the effort against the Soviets by backing Osama bin Laden."
Too bad none of our journalists choose to remember history.
Mike wrote on January 24, 2007 6:16 PM:"CNN was blurbing it a minute ago with a clip and then a pic of Cheney next to the 7pm starting time. They couldn't have chosen a pic with a nastier sneer. He's staring right at the camera and looks like somebody's holding a full diaper under his nose. "
That is his smile, can't you tell?
Mike H. wrote on January 24, 2007 6:18 PM:Amazing that Blitzer even landed a couple of blows. We have waited much too long for this type of questioning.
I suspect Cheney is out by March for 'health' reasons (Scooter's trial might be getting unhealthy) and McCain gets appointed VP.
EH wrote on January 24, 2007 6:34 PM:So what is the argument for meeting Bush's call for bipartisanship when his Administration (or significant members thereof) do not recognize the legitimacy of the Democratic party?
alex wrote on January 24, 2007 6:37 PM:"You were wrong about the weapons, you were wrong about being greeted as liberators, and you were wrong about the insurgency being in its last throes, why should the American public trust you about future decisions on Iraq?"
Who cares about the daughter? The questions I have for him is why should he be trusted to make future decisions about the actions of the country. Time and time again he has proven himself as a person who doesn't collect all the facts before speaking and making decisions about life, death and the fate of the nation. This is the fundamental question. He's created a persona that when he speaks, he speaks the truth, but that truth is based on shoddiness. A low voice and good suit is no longer enough.
fluffy wrote on January 24, 2007 6:58 PM:What a great fantasy life Dick has. If it's chemically induced I'd like to try some of his pills. It is a fantasy, right?
Bill Lynch wrote on January 24, 2007 7:13 PM:Cheney resigns... J.E.Bush appointed VP.
This makes JEB unimpeachable and heir to the throne plus makes him the presumed next GOP candidate.
Anonymous wrote on January 24, 2007 7:19 PM:"I'm sure our VICE President has explainations for his personal enrichment during this war he has so often toted. Has he given a plugged nickel to help those who ave been maimed, disfigured, or killed while he was in the counting house?"
the short answer is "no." the longer answer is, go google currently unpaid taxes by people working in the bush white house (over $600,000 apparently).
and isn't it interesting how we haven't caught bin laden because he's laying low but zawahiri is, according to wolfie, "on television almost as much as I am," and according to cheney, "much, much more visible." so is the reason we haven't caught bin laden REALLY because he is laying low? or is there some other reason?
i guess guys like blitzer are too busy to think about what's been said to them and ask some follow-up. i mean, really, folks, what is the screaming rush that time can't be made to understand stupid answers to simple questions?
and that mary cheney thing was totally appropriate. another question wolfie could have asked is why someone as unqualified as liz cheney was given that job over at department of state dealing with middle eastern affairs?
Anonymous wrote on January 24, 2007 7:26 PM:oh, yeah, JEB bush. (someone mentioned him above)
i'm a little slow on the uptake and it took me longer than some to understand that "jeb" are john e. bush's initials and not a nickname using an otherwise unrelated name. bells, whistles and flashing lights went off in my head remembering "GOB" on arrested development(sounds like "job" when said out loud but is obviously the word "gob," i.e., a generally unappealing small lump or mass, as in a gob of something icky). really unfortunate that show went off the air.
Anonymous wrote on January 24, 2007 8:00 PM:Dick Cheney on the defensive.
THE VICE PRESIDENT: I think you're out of -- I think you're out of line with that question.
If Cheney wanted to stay out of the public eye WHY the HELL is he doing as VP?
And the question tonight was a poll for "impeachment", I mean, how low does the Preznut and VP's poll ratings have to go before the "impeachment" word is uttered? It's time to start talking about it, in the press everywhere.
ALSO CNN edmention Libby's case and how "Libby IF is a scapegoat for Karl" would make Libby's defense that "he just forgot" at that is why Libby lied, so is conspiracy going to be added to the charges against Libby?
I guess Patrick Fitzgerald's slow burn over the hot coals seems to at least have gotten Libby's attorney sweating if not Libby himself.
majortrank wrote on January 24, 2007 8:01 PM:I think Wolf needs to keep an eye out for polonium...
Sarah in Texas wrote on January 24, 2007 8:38 PM:WHOA! I could not believe my ears when I heard this incredible interview) Cheney is LOSING IT! ROFLMAO!!
the exile wrote on January 24, 2007 10:05 PM:These people are insane.
Somebody help us!
(see Hillary)
OK, Wolf was tough, I'll give him that. But he's still the stupidest man this side of Doug Feith. The US is supposed to take on the Mahdi Army? You first Wolf. Assuming that Hillary is the presumptive Democratic nominee? C'mon. He makes Sam Donaldson look like a towering intellect.
DrBB wrote on January 24, 2007 11:20 PM:Okay, I'll pile on.
I think the question is unrelated to his duties as Vice-President of the United States. Mary Cheney is not an employee of the executive branch. The question is out of line.
Bullshit. Capital 'B.' Those "mullas" as you aptly call them have gotten this snarling swine into power and kept him there. He's profited enormously by their support despite the fact they've made an absolute centerpiece out of hatred for people like his daughter (who has made herself complicit in that hypocrisy). It's not out of line to confront him with this contradiction, it's an act of public service of the highest order.
DrBB wrote on January 24, 2007 11:21 PM:Quote from upthread post about Mary C is supposed in italics. Since when does html not work in TPM posts???
Thoin wrote on January 24, 2007 11:58 PM:What I wanted to see, as a follow-up question, was "Mr. Vice President, could you please make your response a little clearer. Outside of the capture and execution of Saddam Hussein, exactly what 'enormous successes' have we had in Iraq? You mention multiple 'enormous successes'. I'd settle for two or three, but if you would, sir, be specific for us."
And then just smile as the silence on the other side of the microphone lengthens.
Doug wrote on January 25, 2007 2:48 AM:Most of the comments are moronic and contribute nothing to the reality of the situation at hand. Offer a stategy and back it up!
itzme wrote on January 25, 2007 2:58 AM:Interview was great. I also did not know Wolfe had it in him.
From begining to end this Presidency has been about one major act of presidential treason: invalidating the votes of Americans.
In the first election of these people and in making comments like this:
Q So you're moving forward no matter what the consequences?
VICE PRESIDENT CHENEY: We are moving forward. We are moving forward. The Congress has control over the purse strings. They have the right, obviously, if they want, to cut off funding. But in terms of this effort, the President has made his decision. We've consulted extensively with them. We'll continue to consult with the Congress. But the fact of the matter is, we need to get the job done. I think General Petraeus can do it. I think our troops can do it. And I think it's far too soon for the talking heads on television to conclude that it's impossible to do, it's not going to work, it can't possibly succeed.
Last November We the People sent a voted message to this administration and they are telling us to our faces that our votes don't mean a thing to them.
The Congress is the power of the people. Ignoring them or dismissing the Congress is dismissing the power of the people, rejecting our votes. The question is will the Congress continue to allow this and in so doing choose to have a dictator as their authority or will they choose to see that we the people are the Constitutional Authority by reason of our votes?
The jobs of Congress and Senate should be on the line in regards to the dismissal of the importance of an American's vote.
vydunas wrote on January 25, 2007 5:16 AM:here's a plan:
let guys on rediculously overextended deployments go home.
reinforce and "surge" in Afghanistan, anticipating a spring offensive from the Taliban and concentrating efforts where they might actually make a difference.
choose the highest priority spots in Iraq, emphasize training, get out of the IED-baiting patrol business.
shift tens of thousands of troops out of Iraq to other regional bases.
in short, look for success where we still might find it (Afghanistan), and try to call it a draw in Iraq by making a concerted effort to reduce the apparent US presence there, while taking troop levels down by at least a third. the idea is that removing targets, i.e. anything with a US flag on it, and putting the onus for safety on the local leaders by denying them the "occupying army" excuse for why everyone's life is miserable will force them to deal and resolve the conflict.
worst case, violence intensifies, Iran gets more involved, situation gets worse. practically speaking, fewer Americans will have died while that occurred, and the civil warriors will have been drawn out into the open. then, if there's any will to continue the fight, the troops in the region can "surge" back in with clearly defined targets to hit.
there's a plan. obviously, it's "sub-optimal," but at least it does something new. and none of this changes the fact that the current situation was a predictable, high probability outcome of the initial "plan," and the fact that willful deception was used to sell the war. that should lead to criminal prosecution for those absurd idealists who again thought that they could violently remake the world into something better "because this time we'll do it right!"
utopia leads to murder.
twc wrote on January 25, 2007 9:41 AM:According to our VP, the situation in Iraq is "untenable," but not "terrible."
norman wrote on January 25, 2007 10:04 AM:Funny, I don't feel any better.
I think Doginfollow put his(her?) finger right on it when he(she?) asked if Wolf "brought lots of garlic and holy water." Why do you think we never see Cheney in daylight? If he was touched by direct sunlight he would burst into flames.
norman wrote on January 25, 2007 10:11 AM:Oh, and one more thing: if Cheney and the rest of this self-deluded, lying, and corrupt administration, really want to know where bin Laden and Zawahiri are located they should ask president Musharraf and his ISI, afterall, the ISI pays all of bin Laden's phone bills, provides accommodations and transportation, and generally makes sure the leadership of one of the ISI's favorites is well kept and protected.
Blackman wrote on January 25, 2007 2:43 PM:Wonderful interview by Honorable Vice President
fidius wrote on January 25, 2007 6:27 PM:Mr. Dick Cheney. He gave a befitting reply to every question posed by biased journalist Wolf working for a liberal organization CNN. The major focus of the interview was to belittle the President & Vice President and republicans which failed. Biased liberal reporters and journalists have been working tirelessly since President Bush took office to bring him down. Pathetic journalist Wolf and his employer pretend they are concerned about Iraq, in reality they neither care about american soldiers nor Iraqi people. Most liberals would hate to see a peaceful Iraq functioning as democracy because that would mean President Bush is a winner.
The seething hatred in the comments on this article alone makes blindingly obvious that the quality of viewership CNN and lefty blogs now command is terribly poor. No sane person watches that interview and comes away thinking Wolf is their hero. Wolf, like the rest of his sheep, suffers from Bush Derangement Syndrome of the worst sort. I can't think of anything more pathetic than having a personal, vested interest in the failure of one's own country. How anyone can support that thinking is totally beyond me.
cmkraus wrote on January 25, 2007 10:46 PM:Please ask yourself one question, What does Wolf do for a living? Is he good at it? It's the questions, not the answers. Give Wolf an "A". It will help him get a bonus.
jhole wrote on January 26, 2007 12:48 AM:I wish Wolf would have asked the VP why the Prez did not even mention rebuilding New Orleans in his State of the Union speech. I am sure that would have gotten a great answer.
Mcagg wrote on January 26, 2007 1:50 AM:Its amazing how short sited liberal are such as Wolf and the whole clan at CNN and others. There is no question in mind that that the terrorist will drop a bomb on our heads if they have the capable means of delivering it. THEY HATE US and always will because of our religion beliefs and our freedoms. Common sense tells you that you never let a problem get bigger. You must be proactive instead of reactive. Get them while they are still manageable. We should never give up on fighting any country who has a strong desire to kill Americans. We must stop them now while we can instead of being held hostage years later for our children to inherit. This problem will never go away as much as the bleeding heart liberals will wish that it could (simply small minded). For anyone who thinks that we should of never invaded Iraq I wished that we could ship everyone one over to Iraq under Saddams regime so they could of endured his hell. I praise the President for having the guts to do something and free those people from hell. Everyone should have the right to freedom. Liberals seem to think that they are privledged and only they should be allowed it. How selfish. No one should live under a tyrant.
Anonymous wrote on January 26, 2007 12:36 PM:i wish Abe Lincoln could take a good look at our pathetic excuse of a government now if we we were not the stongest nation in the world it would be us getting occupied.
Mike wrote on January 26, 2007 8:52 PM:Mr. Cheney showed amazing class while still standing up to gutless Wolff and his agenda. Those who have posted here have no idea what it takes to defend a nation. Thank God we have leaders in Bush and Cheney that will do the right thing in the face of critism from losers like all of you. We will win this war on terror with or without the support of the weak American on this post.
karma police wrote on January 29, 2007 2:08 AM:Quote:
"Most liberals would hate to see a peaceful Iraq functioning as democracy because that would mean President Bush is a winner."
And isn't it so very lucky for them that there seems to be no chance, what-so-ever, of the world seeing anything resembling either 'a peaceful', 'functioning' or 'democrat(ic)' Iraqi state for at least the next few decades!
And all thanks to the special combination of over-weening hubris and lunatic gulability - America loves Chilabi, cause Iraquies luves America! A witches brew highlighted in neon once again by the neo's "number two" in this very interview!
Really- If you want to be pissed at anyone, it should be Cheney. The man's outright dishonesty and smarmy hypocrisy is little more than free advertising for any and everything not right wing- the most left of leftward leaning leftistas.
Once this administrations house of cards finishes tumbling down, I wouldn't be surprised to wake up Nov. 3rd to find that we have the first president with simultaneous memberships in ALF,ELF and AAI- Just to assuage the need for a national cleansing of the pallet after the eight grim years of swallowing the grim dribblings of this administrations bile.
John wrote on February 1, 2007 3:43 PM:It's a sad day when so-called Americans like you people want nothing more than to see our ELECTED officials and our troops in Iraq fail. If the war goes well you, the democrats, and the liberal media look like jackasses. If the war goes poorly, you are proved correct in your assumptions. In effect, you are aligned against your own country. You treat the highest political office in the country like a punching bag for all of your problems. More importantly, you believe that you have more information related to Iraq than the president and vice-president themselves....You are morons if you think they are not more informed on the situation than you are.
You have completely neglected the points of success the Vice President spoke about (no successful attacks on U.S. soil since 9/11, no saddam and sons, democratically elected government in iraq, schools/hospitials/medical treatments for iraqis), simply to bash the Bush Administration.
As far as Osama goes...whens the last time you heard from him? He might as well be dead...he is forced to live out his life in a cave hiding from tomahawk missles. If he peaks his head out, he will be caught or killed. WAKE UP LEFTIST LIBERALS! There is much progress and success if you open your US-hating eyes.
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