Two Bush-era officials reject Cheney's security stance (Gates and Ridge)

AFP on Yahoo ^ | 5/22/09 | Dan De Luce

[NormsRevenge]

WASHINGTON (AFP) – Two top Bush-era officials on Friday rejected ex-vice president Dick Cheney's scathing criticism of US President Barack Obama, saying the country's national security was not in jeopardy.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates, who served in the same post under former president George W. Bush, and Tom Ridge, the former head of homeland security, both voiced disagreement with Cheney a day after he attacked Obama's performance as the new commander-in-chief.

Gates said in an interview that opponents of Obama's decision to close the "war on terror" prison at Guantanamo were engaging in "fear-mongering," a reference to Cheney's stance on the issue.

Defending the president's decision to shut the detention center at the US naval base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, Gates said the prison was damaging America's image and served as a propaganda tool for Al-Qaeda.

"The truth is, it's probably one of the finest prisons in the world today. But it has a taint," Gates told NBC television's "Today" program during a visit to New York.

"The name itself is a condemnation. What the president was saying is, this will be an advertisement for Al-Qaeda as long as it's open," he said.

In an interview with CNN's "State of the Union," Ridge said he could not support the former vice president's charge that Obama had undermined US national security.

Asked if he believed the country was now less safe as a result of Obama's policies, Ridge said: "I do not."

The Republican said the discussion had become too politically charged with Cheney making a televised speech on Thursday immediately after an address by the sitting president.

[Lawgvr1955]

So Gates wants to close the "best prison in the world" (his words not mine) because the left doesn't like the name.

So we have the tail wagging the dog as far as our safety and national security is concerned.

We are screwed with these people playing with the levers of power.

[BilLies]

I hope he is eating “s..T” in order to save our military lives; I don’t know but I hope so. It is like a rear guard action that you know that you will not survive. I need some hope of goodness in men.

[jwalsh07]

So Gates wants to close the "best prison in the world" (his words not mine) because the left doesn't like the name.

Insanity is the new paradigm in America. Great prison, bad name. Ergo, close the prison. Move the inmates to America where it is ever so much easier for jihadists to infiltrate, take hostages and deman their release. All of this while the jihadists are being given more and more rights by Article Three courts since they are now in the system proper.

And then there's the precedent of treating unlawful POW's as criminals with rights. Certainly if unlawful combatants have rights then lawful combatants must be Mirandized, lawyered up and shipped to and America prison.

These people are nuts. But I'm sure that Frank Church is smiling somewhere.

[DoughtyOne]

I knew I wouldn’t like what Obama’s doing. At least he’s doing it and our brain dead RINO president isn’t doing it in our name. I played that game long enough.

You have to draw the line somewhere, and believe me, it’s thousands of miles to the right of John McCain.

That guy has done more to destroy Conservatism in the last ten years, in particular the last two, than any ten Democrats.

[NormsRevenge]

That was a cheap shot, for sure.

Cheney wasn’t the organizer for that event.

[johnandrhonda]

I heard his name was William Gates....

[Cementjungle]

So why is Obama afraid to release the memos about the results of the interrogrations?

[kenmcg]

Gates is a political whore who wants a job. The other guy Ridge is just a loser. I’ll take a true patriot like Cheney any time.

[cubreporter]

Go Cheney go. You’ve got them ALL on the run.

[JSteff]

“Like the guy up above said, never again. No more money, no more votes for useless idiots.”

Okay so we LET, yes LET (meaning vote for “feel” good totally unelectable choices of the Ron Paul of the day) and LET another oBama win the next presidential election thereby condemning the country to a Marxist eternity.

Well at east you “voted your mind”.

Uh, guys? One of the reasons DEMS win elections is that when the money needs to be on the line, the can ALL commit to the bet.

Our side walks away from the game, each with his own individual pennies, but the majority of dems go all in and AS a PARTY, WIN THE TABLE.

With our party of individual “convictions” we are done as a viable party FOREVER! This last cycle is obviously the template for the next 50. The dems will unite to WIN, our side will make 100 indidual statements. Brilliant.

At least you cast “your vote, the way you wanted to”. So what if “your guy” and 100 other guys got one vote each... and so lost to the dems “O” contender of the cycle. Congratulations, you just successfully engaged in self political pleasuring and so ended up lonesome winners with NO voice in the government at all.

Again, brilliant..... Political Darwin award winners... relegated to the trash pit of history were you will be forgotten.

Read my tag line!!!!! Vote to WIN not to make statements, but to WIN.

[magooey]

I have been opposed to Gates from Day One and his lack of experience is showing. President of A&M does not qualify him to by SecDef.

Does his experience as President of A&M qualify him to be in charge of a prison like Gitmo? Just asking.

[jwalsh07]

Vote your conscience and resist the urge to be my conscience or accountant.

[JSteff]

Spoken like a true individual. One man armies lose wars.

[jwalsh07]

Spoken like a true individual.

Thank you for the compliment.

One man armies lose wars.

Those that are willing to settle for mediocrity get mediocrity.

Are we done with the platitudes now?

[RichInOC]

Gentlemen...if he disagrees with you, it is because you are wrong.

He is...

The Most Interesting Man In The World.

“I don’t often bitch-slap Democrat presidents...but when I do, I prefer to leave a mark.

“Stay safe, my friends.”

[Big Horn]

They are a couple of c s phoneys

[magooey]

FWIW, we won't be able to vote for Ron Paul anymore. DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano recently outlawed him and other third party people and supporters in her recent infamous memo. You know, the one that declared outlaw those people who support the Constitution, are concerned about massive illegal immigration, etc.

In any event, between McCain (uninspired) and Obama (two faced crypto-Muslim and inexperienced) I think a lot of people voted for Palin instead.

[Do Not Make Fun Of His Ears]

Bush sure knew how to pick em didn’t he? Of course what did we expect from a RINO.

[webschooner]

Two Lib ass-kissing RINO’s

[popdonnelly]

Cheney’s speech was scheduled a long time ago. He has a perfect right to speak his opinion on the matter. Furthermore, he was there. If people like Gates and Ridge are so anxious to help the Democrats, then I see no value in supporting the Republican Party.