Cheney 'Answers' Obama, Defends Bush Policy

President is too soft on terrorism, says former VP

(NEWSER) - Dick Cheney is steamed at what he perceives as President Obama’s downplaying of the Christmas air terrorism attempt. The US is “at war and when President Obama pretends we aren’t, it makes us less safe,” he tells Politico , becoming the latest Republican to take up the theme. The enemy “knows we are at war,” Cheney says. “Why doesn’t he want to admit we’re at war?” More»

Prez slammed W's national security policy; now he's following it

(NEWSER) - President Obama’s national security policy has been surprisingly close to his predecessor’s—a policy he hammered on the campaign trail. For that, he “owes George W. Bush an apology,” writes Clive Crook in the Financial Times. But his supporters also deserve an apology. His election rhetoric “misled” them: “In office he has found that the issue is more complicated” than he presented it. More»

(NEWSER) - Today's "televised smackdown" between Obama and Cheney was the "political world's equivalent of Ali-Frazier," writes Dana Milbank in the Washington Post. After the president warned against "fear-mongering," Cheney came out swinging. He "used the word 'attack' 19 times, 'danger' and 'threat' six times apiece, and '9/11' an impressive 27 times. It was as if all the angry thoughts edited out of his speeches by Bush aides over eight years were finally free to tumble forth." More»

Ex-VP setting himself, party up to benefit from another 9/11

(NEWSER) - Dick Cheney isn’t in an undisclosed location anymore. The former VP is suddenly waging a one-man campaign defending the Bush administration’s interrogation tactics. Even he can’t believe that’s a great political move, writes Michael Duffy of Time, so what’s he up to? It’s possible that Cheney is playing the long game. By arguing now that President Obama is making us less safe, he’s setting Republicans up to point fingers if another terrorist attack occurs. More»

Says fighting extremists 'a tough, mean, dirty, nasty business'

(NEWSER) - Dick Cheney thinks there’s a “high probability” terrorists will attack the US with a biological or nuclear weapon, and that Barack Obama’s policies will likely only increase those odds. Fighting terrorism is “a tough mean, dirty, nasty business,” the former vice president told Politico. “These are evil people. And we’re not going to win this fight by turning the other cheek.” More»