Cheney, Bush Disagreed Over Striking Iran

(AP)  Did they disagree on national security policy decisions? Certainly. But was Dick Cheney frustrated or even disappointed when overruled by his boss, President George W. Bush? Not at all, the former vice president says.

"The fact of the matter is, he encouraged me to give him my view on a whole range of issues. I did," Cheney said in an interview broadcast on "Fox News Sunday."

"Sometimes he agreed. Sometimes he did not. That was true from the very beginning of the administration," Cheney said.

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Among their disagreements: Cheney supported taking military action against Iran's nuclear program. Mr. Bush, however, wanted to try engaging Iranian leaders first.

"It was not my decision to make," Cheney said. "The president made the decision and, obviously, we pursued the diplomatic avenues."

Earlier reports cast Mr. Bush and Cheney at opposite ends on several other issues. Cheney reportedly disagreed with Bush's decision to stop waterboarding terror suspects - a harsh interrogation tactic that critics call torture. He also reportedly differed with the president on whether to pursue diplomatic talks with North Korea.

On the flip side, Cheney reportedly agreed with Bush on closing secret prisons where interrogators have greater latitude to question terror suspects than at the U.S. Navy base at Guantanamo Bay.

Asked directly about each, Cheney punted.

Does he feel Mr. Bush was less tough on foreign policy during his second term in office than in his first?

"I wouldn't say that," Cheney told Fox News.

Cheney also said the Obama administration shouldn't be driven by a deadline to leave Iraq if the country isn't stable enough by then to remain secure.

"I think there's a danger there that you're going to let the drive to get out overwhelm the good sense of staying long enough to make certain the outcome is what we want," he said.

However, the deadlines in the U.S. security agreement with Iraq - which calls for all American combat troops to leave by the end of 2011 - was negotiated by the Bush administration.

In the end, being a consummate Washington power player, Cheney plugged his upcoming book to provide the answers about where he butted heads with Mr. Bush.

"I think you are going to have wait and read my book," he said.

[Ceres6]

Lately Dick Cheney has been showing us the type of person he really is. In many ways he resembles Darth Vader of Star Wars, but also there is a big difference. Darth Vader at the end of his life became a better man, and Cheney is becomming more and more evil with time.

[mysteriousjz]

Ok... so Bush was little less of evil.. nevertheless, this criminal should have attacked Iran.. after all, learning new lessons is not a bad thing

[proudmilvet]

Sounds like he had the same exact problem as Rush Limbaugh. A complete Lack of Testicular Fortitude!! LOL.

[proudmilvet]

After all these years Cheney is still trying to prove that he is a real man instead of a Draft Dodger. Sorry SOB! Should have thought about that all those years ago when he fully supported the War in Vietnam but took 5 college Draft Deferments anyway. What's that Dick? Oh, you did think about it, that's why you took the Deferments!

[earlysaid]

It is so true that Cheney was the very worst kind of person to be anywhere near our government. He was evil and acted just like the very worst terrorist imaginable. This does improve my opinion of Bush, but he was getting lots and lots of push-back from many sources that he should not attack another country even if Cheney was determined. God help us we have so many idiots in this country who will believe a satanic evil man like Cheney.

[jeezluiz]

OMG - am I the only one who thinks Cheney needs to get a life and maybe take a vacation to West Virginia? He really needs to crawl back under the rock he came from and shut up already.

[mjlewis6]

WEre it not for the fact both Cheney and Bush had to appear TOGETHER and UNSWORN as to the events of 9/11 before a Congressional Panel, I can't believe Bush had ANY INDEPENDENCE separate from Cheney on ANY ISSUE...

The fact that Bush could act passive aggressive and ignore Cheney on a full pardon for Scotter Libby in the final days of office speaks to the stubborn person Bush is...and the ACTIVE CEO MENTALITY that Cheney possesses and had always possess as HALLIBURTON CEO FOR over a DECADE before SELECTING HIMSELF as the VP on Bush's ticket for the first run on the White House...Cheney tried real hard and succeeded in doing many things, including cutting out Collin Powell from any decision making input before the President. It was always Cheney who poured the SAP in Bush's ears....can't hear a thing...until Bush got enough of it....just before he left office.

[nursemark-2009]

Since he spent so much time in a secret undisclosed location, why doesn't he go back there? Is there any way he didn't try to distroy or dishonor this counrty?

[babooph]

Dick should have called Charles Manson....

[deaas]

Some one wrote that ,"Yes, men like Cheney are very dangerou.," What about yes man like Karzai?(President of Afghanistan.

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