Obama vs. Cheney Showdown

How fast we forget that in the last 8 months of Bushs presidency he moved closer to what Obama was saying on national security.

It’s clear to most of the American people when it comes to National Security policy both political parties agree in principle; keeping the American people safe and protecting American strategic interests.
However, the interpretation and implementation of those principles are where each party differs in competing political interest, which is the root of incoherent National security policy from one administration to another.
Far to often National Security is politicized and obfuscated with party political ideology and principles than grounded in common sense and reason based ethical standards, data, risk and conflict resolution management.
It’s clear that former Vice President Cheney and conservative National Security hawks have a record far from the mark of ethics, professionalism and success.
Retaliation is not a sound or respected policy for the United States or our associated allies. Departing from the past administration’s policies, with a clear, fair and ethical set of plans will lead us forward and will not turn the page back.

Seemingly the issue at hand is what to do with the alledged terrorists/prisoners, with America leading the whole world in prisoner detainees , she should be an expert. With the arguments being there is no safeguard against the alledged.The premise is weak, very weak….

Most people who demonize Cheney seem to be clueless rubes who just believes what Dear Leader tells them. Talk about pathetic. I remember 9/11. It’s too bad so many do not.

It is amazing that all the comments on this issue are almost as bad as the new administrations lies. Face facts, The only reason why you all are going after Cheney this way is because he is releasing facts which you dems never like. Look at your speaker now stopping the investigation because to many dems would go down and the Obama admin would never survive. He wont survive past 2012 and the democratic congress will be over in 2010. I hope you all wake up soon but if not stay asleep and we will fix and pay for everything like we have had to do in the past many times….carter, Clinton etc.

9-11 happened on the Bush watch, and the ports were not secured or our borders after it, instead we went to war with the wrong Country and we needed that money to secure our entry ways into US.

Drilling… It is true that 9-11 did happen on bush’s watch. It was Bush who did not take terrorism seriously cause it was a clinton thing. If we don’t get hit again then the worst terrorist attack on this nation happened on george bush’s watch and I believe that he is responsible for the climate that led to the plot not being uncovered or killing bin laden when we had the chance. When cheney said they kept the country safe for 8 years thats b.s.

Brian, did even listen to Cheney’s speech? You know the part where we got hit multiple times in the 90s? USS Cole, Kobar Towers, World Trade Center basement? Bush was Governor of Texas, genius. Want to re-think that argument? BTW, how many times has the country been hit since 9-11? How many plots have been foiled since 9-11. Better go back and do a little more research on the subject.

Do we have to give them parachutes?

Obama smart? That guy without a script, and a teleprompter couldnt be a stunt double for Bozo the Clown.
Who here is absolutely tired of hearing how brilliant obama is? Maybe it’s that the majority of the american public who voted for him are just that much dumber.
Hired a tax cheat to run the IRS, half of his cabinet picks had to step down in disgrace,this guy is one incredible gaffe after another. Came out of a racist church, and a past littered with radical left anti-americans. He has quadrupled the deficit, and spent, and borrowed more than all presidents combined. Obama, or is it Soetoro, is the biggest mistake this country has ever made.

Some of use can’t help but find it ironic that Cheney, who after five well timed deferments over a period of about 7 years to avoid the Viet Nam war, is now framing himself in a heroic grandstanding role for national security. Actually, to quite a few people, he’s coming off as a scared little man out to deflect blame onto others for his own crimes against the country and humanity. He’s not well in every sense of the word.

If Bush, Cheney or anyone really regard the 250 inmates in Guatanamo as hardcore terrorists that are just too dangerous to be transferred to some maximum prison in the United States — oh, polulatin 200+ million — Yet there is a belief that a war against terrorists can be won by a few hundred thousand troops in the militant’s own backyard?
The Bush Administration have to accept that they have had its run to practice its political doctrines in behalf of the interests of the American people. This is the Obama Administration which ran on, and got elected on polical principles and stands that are no secret to the American voters. The Bushies need to take a hint, wise-up, and understand that the current Administration cannot be expected to continue policies which they’re not elected to represent.
David Copperfield, for your next trick, can you make Cheney disappear?!

Vice President Cheney was an extraordinary VP and is a true patriot. For those who love this country and its people, Cheney represents the calm, reasoned experience that “I’ll trump you on that” will never have. This radical element called the Left spews hatred and lies and accuses ordinary Americans of being extremists. You don’t think Cheney is a better Vice-President than Doofus McBiden? That would tell you something.

I just watched George and he said NOTHING. I rarely watch the evening news, now I know I’m missing fluff. Obama and Cheney said torture worked/didn’t work. What a perfect time for proof of one of the other. But ABC offered proof of neither, just Stephenopolous repeating what we just heard. What a waste of an opportunity to offer some context, what a waste of my time.

Stop impeding the Attorney General and start an investigation. No more no prosecutions, i may be willing to prosecute. Get off the fence. That is what Cheney is worried about. He broke the law and knows it. And I think Obama knows it too.

George, how can you validate the Orwellian doublespeak of the Bush administration by using the term “enhanced interrogation techniques?” Call a spade a spade. It’s torture. I never got why you guys fell for “ethnic cleansing,” and used it over and over again instead of “genocide.” You should try to be a bit more unbiased in your use of language.

I would recommend that you watch a movie “Lord of the Wars” The question is what are their motives. Who has set up contracts to keep the engine going.
I don’t think torturing people produces results – the reason why people argue and go to war is that they feel they are not being listened to. The world wars that we have had hasn’t taught us any lasting lessons.
I also recommend that you read the collapse of the Roman Empire and try and draw parallels with what is happening right now.
I don’t exactly agree with both views but I am sticking with the President on this. As a youngster who has a lot to look forward to I would like to work on a policy that produces a dialogue and a constructive way of dealing with people that have different views.

Mr. Cheney is trying to defend the indefensible. Torture is ILLEGAL AND IMMORAL ins this country. PERIOD. It does not matter who is being tortured or what they have done, torture remains illegal and immoral. And for those that believe the end justifies the means, just remember that philosophy is a very slippery slope and can be used to justify almost any action.

The more I watch Cheney and daughter the more I am see that they are responsible for the instability.
Have you ever wondered why the economy went nose dived? Think about it – study the map of the world, look closely at the regions in dispute and ask your self why.
And Linda the extraordinary – can you let us all know your exit plan or was the US planning a jail house indefinitely for this people like they have done for so many innocent men. And while tou are at it – can you give concrete solutions to the hatred all you extreme right people keep spewing out of your mouth. You are always so quick at spewing hatred at other people’s expense. Give it up -Your time is up. And tell that old man Cheney he should be preparing for the future and leave the past. He has made enough mess, tell him to get back in his wheelchair as per the judgement bestowed on him on Jan 20

I hope Cheney keeps talking, yeah, his numbers will gain a bit…but only because the Republican party is so desperately seeking a leader of some sort, so he’ll attract Bush followers and conservative radicals…But he will also push this issue of torture up front and center. Cheney is campaigning to save his own arse, he is speaking from a base of fear and in the end he will become undone.
No doubt, President Obama would rather not have the political distractions while he already has his hand full with the chaotic economy, trying to push reforms of Health care, energy, and education plus having to deal with 2 wars…
Of course Cheney knows this and has decided to attack this President… which at least to me, shows who was the real President in the last eight years, who is therefore responsible for these war crimes and it also shows me the real person that Cheney is…a pathetic fear mongering man, prophesizing and probably praying to his God everyday for another terrorist attack on the US so that he can be seen as right and justified in rewriting the laws to support torture and twisting the constitution as he has seen fit.
So please, Mr. Cheney keep up the campaign to save your own behind.

America is not the police department or piggy bank of the world, we have the United Nations for that purpose. Also,
I have just read a statement in the NY Times and having difficulty e-mailing coherently. The US must repair the damage we have done to the Muslim world? Where is this coming from, certainly not the decades that Muslims have terrorized the rest of the world, such as the Olympics, hijackings and attacking our embassy in Tehran and other locations around the world. This is classic George Orwell double-speak, or blame the victim. I desperately hope that none of our elected leaders buys into this lie. Americans also strenuously object to Hillary Clinton’s proposal for millions more to Pakistan, we are not the world’s piggy bank and this Mideast dilemma needs the attention of the United Nations. What needs to be addressed is illegal immigration, updating our Constitution, and a host of other social problems.
Sincerely,
MaryAnne B.

DaveM, the actions of Cheney as well as the Bush administration thwarted potential attacks across our country and kept us safe. You are too quick to pass judgement on our political leaders that clearly possess more information than we do. Question: if 10,000 innocent civilians were going to die, including your family, would you not waterboard one terrorist that holds the information that will save their lives? Answer me that.