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Cheney: 'I Erred on Insurgency'

VP doesn't back off other Iraq, Afghanistan decisions

By Dustin Lushing, Newser Staff

Posted Aug 1, 2007 5:21 AM CDT

(Newser) – Dick Cheney admitted yesterday that he was wrong when he said the Iraqi insurgency was "in its last throes" in 2005. "My estimate at the time was wrong, it turned out to be incorrect," the VP told CNN's Larry King. He said he had been optimistic that elections and a constitution would "undermine the insurgency," but "that clearly didn't happen."

The insurgency "turned out to be more robust," he said. Cheney blamed the rise of al-Qaeda for bolstering the insurgency and continued to defend the administration's overall plan, saying its decisions have been "absolutely the sound ones." It was the VP's clearest public acknowledgment of setbacks in Iraq since the 2003 US-led invasion began, Reuters reports.

[Images (3)]

[Videos (1)]

Vice President Dick Cheney is shown in this Oct. 5, 2005 file photo. Cheney will undergo a minor surgical procedure Saturday, July 28, 2007, to replace the battery that powers a device monitoring his... (Associated Press)

Vice President Dick Cheney participates in a video teleconference with Iraq Provincial Reconstruction Team Leaders, Embedded Provincial Reconstruction Team Leaders, and Brigade Combat Commanders, Friday,... (Associated Press)

Vice President Dick Cheney addresses the National Association of Manufacturers breakfast in Washington in this, Feb. 14, 2007, file photo. Cheney, who thrives on secrecy while pulling the levers of power,... (Associated Press)

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Cheney: 'I Erred on Insurgency'