Cheney: Japan Bow "Harmful," Obama Still "Dithering"

By: Brian Montopoli
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Former Vice President Dick Cheney again harshly criticized President Obama this morning, telling a conservative talk show host that the president's much-debated bow to Japan's Emperor Akihito was "fundamentally harmful" to the country and suggesting that Mr. Obama doesn't understand the negative impact of the time he has taken to craft a strategy going forward in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

The Weekly Standard reports that Cheney told Scott Hennen that the bow reflected the fact that Mr. Obama "doesn't fully understand or have the same perception of the US role in the world that most Americans have."

Cheney also said the decision to put Khalid Sheikh Mohammad and other Guantanamo Bay detainees on trial in civilian court was a misguided effort at a "show trial" that will allow terrorists "to stand up and spread the terrible ideology that they adhere to."

And he again made the case that the president's "dithering" on what to do in Afghanistan and Pakistan is hurting the country.

"I worry that there's a lack of understanding of what this means from the perspective of the troops," he said. "You know, if you're out there on the line day in and day out and putting your life at risk on a volunteer basis for the nation and you see the Commander in Chief unable to or appearing to be unable to make a decision about the way forward here – you know that raises serious doubts."

Cheney went on to suggest the "very costly" delay in a decision could be attributed to "inexperience" and argue that "every day that goes by raises doubts in the minds of our friends and allies in the region about what you're going to do."

You can listen to the interview above.

Brian Montopoli
Brian Montopoli is the senior political reporter at CBSNews.com.
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by tomdegan58 December 9, 2009 6:29 AM EST: Dick Cheney's most recent kvetch? Obama was "dithering" on Afghanistan. Dithering? Pray tell, do my ears deceive me? Barack Obama was "dithering" on whether or not to send an additional thirty-five thousand kids into harms way? He dithered???

Oh! Dastardly Dick! Oh! Vile, deceitful Dickie! If thou had thus dithered, might not thy fellow countrymen and women have awaken this morn to a more content and peaceable homeland? Oh, vile and blundering Dick! Naughty Dick! Thou contemptible rascal!

If you've ever read my blog, it's no secret that it is my profound belief that Obama is committing a monumental mistake by escalating the war in Afghanistan. But let's give the guy a tip of the hat, okay? At least he had the good sense to think long and hard about what he felt he needed to do - unlike the previous administration that dove head-first and smiling into this quagmire. In spite of my criticism, I believe (I hope) that Barack Obama is essentially a decent guy who means well. As stated previously, it is way too early to give an etched-in-stone assessment of this administration. We need to see where Election Day 2013 finds us. We shall see what we shall see.

At the moment it would seem that Dick Cheney and his disgusting daughter Liz are fast becoming Number One the extreme right's nitwit Parade. The darling girl is now promoting a movement ( and, PUH-LEEZ, I hope this is true) that would make dear old dad the GOP nominee in 2012. This can't possibly be, can it? Optimist though I may be, my luck has never gotten this good! Could this merely be a dream from which I am yet to awake? Pinch me, please.

http://www.tomdegan.blogspot.com

Tom Degan
Goshen NY; Reply to this comment


by DrLouJellyfinger November 24, 2009 5:44 PM EST: Let's see who was dithering. Big Dick and his lacky bush had 7 years to get osama. The only reason he is opening his pie hole now is greed. He and his buddies at Haliburton stand to make another 10 to 15 billion of our taxpayer dollars if we sent in another 40,000 troops. I can't wait for this guy to pass on so I can go take a leak on his grave.; Reply to this comment

by endurorob_5 November 24, 2009 10:51 AM EST

meboard November 24, 2009 10:36 AM EST
He never served in theater, like I did, and he?s currently in no position to know what affect this has on the troops. As a tax payer and disabled veteran, I for one would appreciate Washington coming up with a clear plan of what our end point will be for this so called war or better termed nation building exercise. Both Iraq and Afghanistan have been seriously mismanaged. And its absolutely shameful that the previous administration kept from making any decisions so they could dump that political hot potato on someone else. Talk about dithering!

Well guess what. Obama never served in the military either. As a matter of fact he never served in anything remotley related to the military. Now when the people who know what is going on and have the experience required to make good decisins and recomendations have given him their recomendations he decides they are not good enough.

Reply to this comment


by Empire-George November 24, 2009 11:00 AM EST: by endurorob_5 November 24, 2009 10:51 AM EST

Precisely, who would you take on experience ?

Someone who was the Secretary of Defense of the Armed forces for 4 years, and Vice President of the United States for 8 years.

or

Someone who organized a few failed communities in Chicago, and spent 143 days voting -present- in the Senate, with no experience remotely related to the military.....oh, and 10 months experience destroying America


by endurorob_5 November 24, 2009 10:23 AM EST: meboard November 24, 2009 10:07 AM EST
22 years doing what?

22 years of active duty military service.; Reply to this comment


by babooph November 24, 2009 10:10 AM EST: Cheney has no idea if he himself bowed[too drunk] he was told he shot someone though....; Reply to this comment


by endurorob_5 November 24, 2009 9:40 AM EST: meboard November 24, 2009 9:21 AM EST
And I understand that you are more than willing to accept ANYTHING as pure and just when it comes from the government.

No I am not. But I also do not make accusatins without facts to back them up.; Reply to this comment


by MPHgrad November 24, 2009 9:31 AM EST: The economy is in shambles, the unemployment rate is in the double digits in most states, we are in two wars, the rate of poverty & homelessness is increasing, obesity is the new norm, health care costs are sky rocketing, bailed out banks aren't lending, TB infections are once again on the rise in the US...and Cheney focuses on a bow. Does he not have anything better to do or anything constructive to offer. He is such an angry little person.; Reply to this comment


by 50BMS13 November 24, 2009 9:25 AM EST: Cheney is right on both accounts! He would have taken Iran out but liberal Congress and Senate are accountable for the mess we are in with Iran today.; Reply to this comment


by endurorob_5 November 24, 2009 9:15 AM EST: meboard November 24, 2009 9:14 AM EST
What I?m saying is that we will never know the facts because records are sealed for ?national security? or ?executive privilege? preventing the public from getting to the truth of why politicians govern they way the do or don?t. Can you understand my point?

Yes I understand the point of sealed records. I also understand you are making accusations without any facts to back up those accusations.; Reply to this comment


by endurorob_5 November 24, 2009 8:53 AM EST: meboard November 24, 2009 8:40 AM EST
Of course they are assumptions, because we can?t get to the facts?and most likely never will. Sad state of affairs.

So you admit to making accusations based on assumptions without any facts to back up those accusations.; Reply to this comment