Biden: Cheney ‘Dead Wrong’; Terror Policies Have Created More Terrorists
EmailWhat does the future vice president really think about Vice President Dick Cheney?
In our exclusive interview for "This Week" — VP-Elect Joe Biden didn’t mince words about his predecessor.
"I don’t agree with the vice president," Biden said, "I think the recommendations, the advice that he has given to President Bush — and maybe advice the president already had decided on before he got it — I’m not making that judgment — has been not healthy for our foreign policy, not healthy for our national security, and it has not been consistent with our Constitution, in my view."
"His notion of a unitary executive, meaning that, in time of war, essentially all power, you know, goes to the executive, I think is dead wrong. I think it was mistaken," Biden said.
"I think that it caused this administration in adopting that notion to overstep its constitutional bounds, but at a minimum to weaken our standing the world and weaken our security. I stand by that, that judgment," Biden said.
"He still thinks we should have gone into Iraq, knowing exactly what we knew and the way we did," Biden said, He also stands by the fact that we still should keep Guantanamo Bay open and so on. So — so we have fundamentally different view."
Biden refuted Cheney’s recent comments that the more people learn about the threats facing the nation and read the intelligence reports, the more they will come around to the Bush administration’s point of view on their counterterrorist policies.
"As chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, unless they were lying to me all along, I knew the details of the threat. I was one of those four people that had access to all that information, excuse me, one of those eight people the — that had access to that information," Biden said.
"Secondly, I have been getting what they call that presidential briefing you get every morning from the intelligence community since the day we have been — since the day we were elected, not sworn in. I have learned nothing thus far that would change my view."
Nothing? I asked him.
"Nothing thus far that would change my fundamental view that Guantanamo should close, number one, that, number two, the way in which we have conducted our policy, in terms of both surveillance as well as the detainees, has hurt our reputation around the world.
And to quote from a previous national security report put out by the — the intelligence community, we have — we have created, not dissuaded, more terrorists as a consequence of this policy. Nothing I’ve learned thus far has changed my fundamental view on the constitutional as well as the practical positions we should take relative to the issues of torture and others," he said.
–George Stephanopoulos
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Before the United States sends any more troops to Afghanstan, it is mandatory that capable protection is also available. I’m talking about body armor and vehicles able to withstand land mines.
Send in enough forces and equipment able to terminate the problem; not drag it on for 5 years. In the end, bring the equipment as well as the troops home.
Posted by: rovernh | December 21, 2008, 10:34 am 10:34 am
If you want to make the world safer follow Ron Paul’s adherence to the Golden Rule. If you want to create more enemies kill their loved ones as Cheney has championed. It really is pretty obvious what creates the hatred.
Posted by: Huh | December 21, 2008, 11:47 am 11:47 am
YEA! May God and the force be with you, Mr. Biden.
Posted by: vogeloy | December 21, 2008, 12:05 pm 12:05 pm
Hey Joe, here’s an analogy for you:
A few wasps stung a homeowner so he decided to destroy the nest where they came from. Now the whole nest is attacking him. Is he creating more “bad” wasps? Or maybe he should just ignored it hoping he doesn’t get stung again, and again, and again……
Posted by: USA-No1 | December 21, 2008, 12:50 pm 12:50 pm
Kill them all and let God sort them out. Cheney’s tragedy is that he was born in modern times. If he’d been around during the Inquisition or the Salem Witch Trials (just to name a couple of examples), his tactics wouldn’t have been out of place.
Posted by: billp | December 21, 2008, 1:01 pm 1:01 pm
BTW, USA-No1, wasps aren’t human beings – if you kill a bunch of them, their relatives don’t get upset and come after you. Bright comment.
Posted by: billp | December 21, 2008, 1:03 pm 1:03 pm
The tough kids, Bush and Cheney, have kept the playground safe from bullies. With their departure, the bullies will return and have their way.
Posted by: Sigmonde | December 21, 2008, 1:19 pm 1:19 pm
BTW, USA-No1, wasps aren’t human beings – if you kill a bunch of them, their relatives don’t get upset and come after you. Bright comment.
Posted by: billp
—————————-
Thanks for letting me know that wasps aren’t human beings.
Posted by: USA-No1 | December 21, 2008, 1:49 pm 1:49 pm
Biden is 100% correct,the evil emperor Darth Cheney has the blood of several thousands on his evil blood thirsty hands.And don’t forget his Halliburton stock made him extremely wealthy thanks to the Iraq war. I hope he enjoys counting his blood money in HELL!!
Posted by: AJ | December 21, 2008, 2:05 pm 2:05 pm
Can’t you americans see through it by now, Bush, Cheney, Rumsfield, they are the criminals whom you (stupid) have put in power four years ago. As if that is not enough, thee are people in your country that are still willing to do it all over again and vote for them!! I cannoy believe that there are so many stupid people in your country, just like that woman in McCain’s rally saying Obama is an Arab??!!??** Are you a superpower???
Posted by: Al | December 21, 2008, 2:22 pm 2:22 pm
Al…You must be Canadian. Your USA envy is showing.
Posted by: Sigmonde | December 21, 2008, 3:42 pm 3:42 pm
People, Cheney is pure evil itself in it’s purest form. Power crazed and hanging his hat on the need to push that nuclear button without consulting anyone. This administration has created more terrorism and hatred than they have prevented. Again, how many innocent Iraqui’s have perished under their decision? And don’t forget that 9-11 happened under their watch, after numerous warnings that they laughed off. Wonder why Bush sat like a nimrod staring into space and at “My Pet Goat” when he was told that our nation was under attack on our own soil? Because he is a moron and did not know what to do. His spin doctors said that he didn’t want to upset the kids…great, go tell that to all the families who lost their family members or friends in the attack. Just great…How absolutely pathetic.
Posted by: Bill1037 | December 21, 2008, 3:54 pm 3:54 pm
Joe Biden is the biggest idiot. First, this man has the gall to criticize Bush and Cheney about the war in Iraq when he was for the bombings of Iraq in the 90′s when Clinton was in charge. Second, he was for the Iraqi Liberation Act of 1998 and I don’t remember him saying EVER that Saddam wasn’t a threat to the world. Third, Biden’s history proves he doesn’t know a darn thing about the Constitution when it comes to the powers of the President and VP. He can’t even get the correct Article that lists it! That was evident during the VP debate! Fourth, Biden is a fake just like he tried to plagiarize others’ work and his rudeness on judicial appointees just shows you how hateful he is. The notion that Biden and all the loony leftists that claim that more terrorists came about because of the Iraqi war are delirious and downright stupid and have no inkling as to the religion of Islam. These guys seem to think that terrorism only occurs in Afgahnistan. Words can’t describe the idiocy of these people. Biden seems again to have amnesia of no threats that would change his mind of supporting the war, islamic terorism or gitmo. Uh, maybe he forgot that weekly gaffe in October when he told his audience that if Obama is elected, they could be attacked as a test. Closing GITMO is a joke, I don’t see any Democratic congressmen getting in line to offer their state pens to allow these prisoners in! I think Biden has had too many visits to get his eyes injected and forehead done. He must be going to the same place as John Kerry. I cringe for our country these next four years! Biden needs to know that we DIDN’T vote for him or Obama in office! The electors did. Gosh, what a doofus!
Posted by: justrighttoo | December 21, 2008, 4:06 pm 4:06 pm
sigmonde
Bush and Cheney WERE the bullies, ask anyone who had their conversation overheard, any other country in the world, or any innocent person in iraq that had nothing to do with Saddams policies but is sure paying the price for ours. The really sorry thing is that you seem to be the kid inside class still staring out the window wishing you were the bully yourself.
Posted by: Gradwrkout | December 21, 2008, 4:21 pm 4:21 pm
justrighttoo
Apples and oranges on 90% of the “examples” you just mentioned, but hey, why should it matter, you just want to hate him right?
Posted by: gradwrkout | December 21, 2008, 4:23 pm 4:23 pm
It’s kind of curious when evil is mentioned, no one say anything about people that beheading our citizens and soldiers, flying plane full of civilian into building, homocidal bombers exploding in a middle of a crowd of civilians, people recruiting the mentally challenge to their dirty deed…….
Evil is terrorists hiding behind cilvilians to create more death and destruction. They can always count on most of the liberals to give them aid and comfort. Give it a rest.
Posted by: USA-No1 | December 21, 2008, 4:39 pm 4:39 pm
gradwrkout – they aren’t apples and oranges. It’s a fact Joe Biden doesn’t know what Articles in the Constitution that explains the responsibilities of the VP. Next, he has cherry picked his ‘intell reports’ especially when he was seeing the intell in the 90′s and was fully behind Clinton in 1998. People like you forget what the original U.N. resolution in 1991 entailed. Because if you did, you would have a different view of this war. Next, Clinton established the Iraqi Liberation Actin 1998 but Bush just carried it out. Biden, Leahy, Levin all knew Saddam’s WMD’s and they didn’t care abou the facts but rather, denied it because they didn’t like Bush’s policies. Anything to not let Bush look good or win the war. When you have people on the ground giving you factual evidence from other spy sources, the senators are lying to the American people.
Posted by: justrighttoo | December 21, 2008, 4:49 pm 4:49 pm
There we go, liberals, liberals, liberals…keep saying those nasty words like Rush and Shawn Hannity taught you. And while you’re at it, let’s all get back on the bandwagon of those right wing conservatives who kept preaching to de-regulate, de-regulate, de-regulate, we need smaller government and let business just police itself. They will always look for what is best for this country. Right? Can see where that got us. Worse financial catastrophy ever. All while your buddies at Halliburton decide to take their business offshore, so they don’t even have to pay taxes. It’s pathetic what you right wingers have done to this once great country. Now the Dems need to step in and try to clean this mess up and get our people back to work. There may be too much damage done.
Posted by: bill1037 | December 21, 2008, 5:15 pm 5:15 pm
bill1037 – Boy, do you need a history lesson. The “worst financial catastrophe” was caused by decades of democratic party laws. Bush tried to get more oversight and the dems voted against it on Fanny and Freddie, so don’t even go there. We have this mess because of the dems, NOT BUSH. If we had left private industry ALONE, then none of this would have happened. And finally,I don’t blame Haliburton for leaving this country because we have the 2nd HIGHEST corporate tax rate in the world! Who wants to do business here? Get a grip! We now we have people in charge that believe that private businesses that make a profit are evil. So, now we will have two men who do NOT believe in the Constitutio will be in charge. It’s sickening. You want a socialistic government, fine, you just love the European way and NOT the American way. The damage done to our country was brought on by FDR, Johnson, Carter and Clinton who all brought in socialistic social issues. Please spare us!
Posted by: justrighttoo | December 21, 2008, 6:17 pm 6:17 pm
justrighttoo – You make some good points. The Community Reinvestment Act was also a disaster. I blame both parties. Dems tax and spend, and reps borrow and spend. Both parties have given the fed the freedom to inflate this 35 year bubble. I want the free market to rule, but it has not been free for a very long time.
Posted by: Huh | December 21, 2008, 6:25 pm 6:25 pm
Rightwingers and the Neocons have ruined the America we once knew. They are traitors to the true American way.These people act very similar to the Nazis of years ago. Many similarities for sure.
Posted by: AJ | December 21, 2008, 6:42 pm 6:42 pm
The America we once knew was when Democrats and Republicans were patriotic and stood up to the enemies of our country. Today, we see only the Republicans doing the heavy lifting.
Posted by: Sigmonde | December 21, 2008, 8:02 pm 8:02 pm
Just right about what? That Bush and Cheney have your nose ring firmly in place so that you can support the most corrupt administration this country has ever seen? Yea, just right to let all business, especially the war mongers that made an unbelievable profit on the backs and blood of our brave soldiers, all for what? Nothing there was no threat, there was no WMD’s there was nothing but a vengence for “daddy” to say “good little boy” But yea your right, let’s just sit back and let all business and jobs move offshore and stop regulating anything. Oh but wait, what did your beloved leader do in his final days, that’s right that dreaded “government” had to step in to bail out the auto industry, the banking industry, unemployment benefits, etc., etc. I thought you wanted less government??? Oh that’s right, we’ll print more money and borrow as much as we can from China. Besides we won’t have to worry about it once China says balance due. See you in the rice patties.
Posted by: bill1037 | December 21, 2008, 11:29 pm 11:29 pm
Bush and Cheney should be tried and convicted of TREASON and dealt with as such! They were successful where Bin Laden was not.
Posted by: drwfll | December 22, 2008, 10:10 am 10:10 am
George Bush will go down in history as the worst President of the United States, it is that simple. Clinton had nothing to do with it and neither will Obama.
1. Iraqi Liberation Act has nothing to do with a unilateral invasion of another country based on false intel.
2. Democrats “Tax and Spend” that’s funny. Clinton leaves office with a Budget surplus, Bush leaves office with a 3 Trillion dollar deficit.
3. Justrighttoo – you need a history lesson too – DEREGULATION is what caused this mess, Phil Graham is your man, not a Democrat, nice try, look it up!
4. FDR damaged this country! Wow that is some strong Kool-Aid! Socialism – you’ve been listening to Rush and watching Sean Hannity too much! You better run out to Walmart and by yourself a few guns!
5. It helps to have a President that canthink on his feet, has vision and surrounds himself with a variety of opinions and can make an informed decision on his own. Unfortunately, that is not George Bush. but it is Barack Obama, and I could not care less if he was a Republican, Democrat, Liberal, Conservative or Socialist.
Posted by: Kevin | December 22, 2008, 10:44 am 10:44 am
Right on the money Kevin. We get these nit-wits who love their trailer park existence and wrap themselves in the flag and salute everytime Bush or Cheney consent to another unbiased Fox interview. Disagree with them and you’re “socialist, communist, unpatriotic, etc., etc. Trouble with them is that America finally stood up for its ideals and made a major statement the last two elections. Even that evil Cheney in his final days, get on Fox (surprise, surprise!) and says the most abhorent things ever. He was behind Rumsfelt, stands behind the decision to go to war, stands behind torture… all of this from someone who got 6 deferments to stay out of the service and when asked why said, “I don’t have time for that”. He sleeps the sleep of angels with 4000+ of our brave soldiers deaths on his hands and 100′s of thousands of innocent Iraqi’s. This is truely an EVIL, EVIL man!
Posted by: bill1037 | December 22, 2008, 11:21 am 11:21 am
It’s comical to see the liberals are still in denial about the clinton and obama.
Whom ever disagreed with their warp view are trailer trash and those who fights the enemy of the country are how how getting dupe by Bush and Cheney. They talked a good game about supporting our troops then stabbed them in the back. Our enemies just loves these people.
Cherry picking and taking things out of context to fit it into their skewed vision is what they do best. They thinked msnbc and cnn is factual news. biden got 5 deferrements to stay out of the service and it’s ok but anyone elses are an issues. Hypocrite.
Posted by: USA-No1 | December 22, 2008, 12:28 pm 12:28 pm
Certainly Bush and Cheney didn’t spend time in the military. They brought the world a whole new view of the US. They believe in no diplomacy, no humility, and created a world that hates us. I have not been able to fly an American flag at home for 6 years. No pride in being an American these days. Hopefully Obama can bring back our place and respect to the world community.
Posted by: Frank | December 22, 2008, 12:49 pm 12:49 pm
Frank, the reason you can’t fly the US flag at home is that your friends keep setting it on fire when they come over to your house.
Posted by: Jama | December 22, 2008, 4:01 pm 4:01 pm
Yup that’s right USA, your way to support the troops is send em into battle with people who aren’t even our enemy and made no hostile advances towards us. Now the 4000+ dead USA soldiers blood is on your hands too. Enjoy it to your grave. Oh and BTW, the 100 thousand plus innocent Iraqi’s that are dead, their on your hands too. Just keep listening to the spewings of Rush and Sean, now here is some factual news.
Posted by: bill1037 | December 22, 2008, 6:18 pm 6:18 pm
“His notion of a unitary executive, meaning that, in time of war, essentially all power, you know, goes to the executive, I think is dead wrong. I think it was mistaken,” Biden said.
Once again Dopey Joe is wrong!
The President of the United States is
also Commander-In-Chief of the
Armed Forces and as such can commit
our forces to any region of the world
without a declaration of war or
Congressional Consent!
I guess Dopey Joe is still looking for
those photos of FDR going on TV
during the Stock Market Crash of 1929
to reassure the American People! Duh!
Posted by: reaganfan | December 23, 2008, 1:26 pm 1:26 pm
ABC NEWS crosses the line of fabrication as usual here. Stop telling us what you think we should read, hear and write. Your censorship is horrendous. Thanks alot ABC news for censoring my posts so frequently. You are trying to control the media and the people by doing this. If a comment does not “fit in” with your articles point( and of course it must agree with you) It is censored or even taken out completely. This is sad that ABC news must do this, because they are trying to be an unbiased and valid news source…….well I have news for you guys ABC, you are just as bad as FOX news- which is the absolute worst news source known to humankind. I will not come to your low-end news source unless it is to write an article like this. You are pathetic, and should take comments OFF of your site ENTIRELY because you are manipulating news and what people are really saying. Great work geniuses.
Posted by: tehevo | December 23, 2008, 3:39 pm 3:39 pm
bill1037, terrorists kill our troops and many civilians as they could to get people liked you to help them out.
saddamm have been shooting at us for years when we were enforcing the no fly zone. And you think that they’re not our enemy and made no hostile advances towards us.
And how’s removing a tyrant who commits mass murder with WMD and violated countless of UN resolution are unjust? Why do you want to support the terrorists?
Posted by: USA-No1 | December 25, 2008, 11:30 pm 11:30 pm
OK USA, let’s get some facts straight. Rumsfeld provided Saddam with the WMD. Second of all, imagine yourself living in Iraq, you have a decent life, a home, family, etc., yea you hate your leader (but that is a familiar mantra), now an outside country comes in that youhad no aggressiontoward, destroys your home, your life, probably kills some of your family, now you are ticked off. Know what, being ticked off at what we did to you, makes you a terrorist. Do you understan, even your own beloved Bush said Al Qaeda and the Taliban were not in Iraq because Saddam hated them. Now you can step back and wrap yourself in our flag and keep saluting everytime these pathetic, evil people try to justify what they did, but the truth of the matter is it makes you just as guilty. Enjoy the blood of 100′s of thousands of innocent deaths on your hands. And you talk about Saddams WMD’s?, let’s count these innocent deaths on Bush and CHeney’s hands. These are truely war crimes.
Posted by: bill1037 | December 26, 2008, 6:14 am 6:14 am