Posted on 11/16/2005 4:05:19 PM PST by Oeconomicus
CHENEY FIGHTS BACK Wed Nov 16 2005 18:56:46 ET Excerpts As Prepared For Delivery Tonight by Vice President Cheney
THE VICE PRESIDENT: "As most of you know, I have spent a lot of years in public service, and first came to work in Washington, D.C. back in the late 1960s. I know what its like to operate in a highly charged political environment, in which the players on all sides of an issue feel passionately and speak forcefully.
In such an environment people sometimes lose their cool, and yet in Washington you can ordinarily rely on some basic measure of truthfulness and good faith in the conduct of political debate. But in the last several weeks we have seen a wild departure from that tradition.
And the suggestion thats been made by some U. S. senators that the President of the United States or any member of this Administration purposely misled the American people on pre-war intelligence is one of the most dishonest and reprehensible charges ever aired in this city...
Some of the most irresponsible comments have, of course, come from politicians who actually voted in favor of authorizing force against Saddam Hussein. These are elected officials who had access to the intelligence, and were free to draw their own conclusions.
They arrived at the same judgment about Iraqs capabilities and intentions that was made by this Administration and by the previous Administration. There was broad-based, bipartisan agreement that Saddam Hussein was a threat that he had violated U.N. Security Council Resolutions and that, in a post-9/11 world, we couldnt afford to take the word of a dictator who had a history of WMD programs, who had excluded weapons inspectors, who had defied the demands of the international community, who had been designated an official state sponsor of terror, and who had committed mass murder.
Those are facts.
What were hearing now is some politicians contradicting their own statements and making a play for political advantage in the middle of a war. The saddest part is that our people in uniform have been subjected to these cynical and pernicious falsehoods day in and day out. American soldiers and Marines are out there every day in dangerous conditions and desert temperatures conducting raids, training Iraqi forces, countering attacks, seizing weapons, and capturing killers and back home a few opportunists are suggesting they were sent into battle for a lie.
The President and I cannot prevent certain politicians from losing their memory, or their backbone but were not going to sit by and let them rewrite history.
Were going to continue throwing their own words back at them. And far more important, were going to continue sending a consistent message to the men and women who are fighting the war on terror in Iraq, Afghanistan, and many other fronts.
We can never say enough how much we appreciate them, and how proud they make us. They and their families can be certain: That this cause is right and the performance of our military has been brave and honorable and this nation will stand behind our fighting forces with pride and without wavering until the day of victory.
Developing...
Here's a picture for you!
You joined yesterday and so boldly tell me this? Welcome to FR, btw.
My father is a Veteran of the Korean War, Gunnery Sgt. My cousin currently serves in the Marines. I have numerous friends who have also served in our military.
I don't presume to speak for the Veterans, nor should you. They are quite free to post in FR, and many, many do. On threads, and in private FReepmails, all told me quite the opposite of anything in your post. Perhaps you don't like what I say, but that doesn't make it the truth.
"Perhaps Drudge was interfering with Cheney's evil hurricane machine."
LOL!
First Bush,now Cheney is fighting back.Could this be a trend?:)
Attacking the voters is never a good idea. It only makes a politician look like a complete and utter fool.
I suggested on another thread that the President demand a joint session of congress, ostensibly to give an update on the status of the war, which they (disingenuously) have required from him. Then he goes before them and gives them the dressing down of their lives, embarrasses the traitors in front of the whole country like (Marc Antony) they've never been embarrassed before.
Never happen, too risky.
I saw a bike similar to that for sale on craigslist.
I've been one of those on here who've been willing to burn Bush and Cheney on the stake for not coming out and defending themselves. But I think maybe... they let the Democrats and the MSM talk and talk, and play their drumbeat over and over and over enough so the American people won't FORGET it.It's a valid theory. I, like you, have been very angry at this administration lately for not fighting back at the constant barage of lies.
I am feeling better about the events of recent days --- Mehlman on Meet the Press, Cheney speaking out, Bush's latest speeches --- but I am still worried that all we're seeing here is desperation, that the do-nothing tendency of the Republicans just couldn't stand and now they have to get out and at least try to do something.
That's my theory. I like your theory better. I hope your theory is right.
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