Cheney: Critics 'Dead Wrong' on Afghan Campaign

Yahoo News ^ | November 14 | Charles Aldinger

[america-rules]

By Charles Aldinger

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Vice President Dick Cheney (news - web sites) fired a broadside at critics of the U.S. military campaign in Afghanistan (news - web sites) on Wednesday, saying they had been ``dead wrong'' in sniping at the pace of a 39-day bombing against the Taliban.

Boasting that the Taliban were in flight ``virtually all over the country,'' he chided analysts who accused the Pentagon (news - web sites) of not dropping more bombs or putting more troops into Afghanistan.

``It's nice, at a moment like this, to be able to remind them (critics) that a lot of what they put out over the course of the last few weeks was just dead wrong,'' Cheney told the U.S. Chamber of Commerce (news - web sites) in a speech.

He was not specific about the critics but said it included military pundits, the Washington press and ``talking heads'' on television.

Praising Air Force Gen. Richard Myers, chairman of the military Joint Chiefs of Staff, the vice president said that ''we've got some great people running the operation. And the results are there for all to see.''

Cheney cautioned that the war was far from over in Afghanistan despite the collapse in many areas of military forces of the fundamentalist Muslim Taliban, who have ruled the country for five years.

``This is a very good beginning to what's likely to be a long struggle,'' he said.

``They (the Taliban) have lost their control over a major part of Afghanistan. They've lost control of most of the cities. Many of their forces have been killed, captured or fled to the hills,'' he said.

But in another apparent jab at critics, he noted that President Bush (news - web sites) had vowed to end support by the Taliban and other countries worldwide for ``terrorist'' networks such as al Qaeda guerrillas of fugitive Osama bin Laden (news - web sites), accused of masterminding Sept. 11 attacks on America.

``I think this morning, in the fate that has befallen the Taliban, there is proof positive,'' the vice president said.

``If anybody has any questions about whether or not we're determined to carry through on that threat, all they have to do is go visit Afghanistan today and interview members of the Taliban -- if they can find any.''

[GoreIsLove]

Norm Mineta is from San Jose, CA and had nothing to do with whatever happened to Denver's airport. And actually, they just renamed San Jose International Airport after him.

[Iscool]

And I agree with him on 90% of his issues, but that can not let me agree with his position on Israel. He has disappointed me greatly, by revealing his true anti-semetic leanings.

I am aware that the media has accused Pat of being anti Jewish but I have never seen him say anything anti Jewish...But I have watched him defend his pro Jewish position...

And things are better now???The current administration is bending over for the Saudis and pushing harder than any previous administration to get a palestinian state in Israel...

[Straight Vermonter]

Nice to have the grown ups in the White House again.

[lormand]

"Cheney was talking about John McCain."

Exactly right!

That pompous windbag/scumbag McInsane probably doesn't even know it. He is too busy looking for a camera and a podium somewhere right now.

[wildbill]

That sound you hear in the background is limbs breaking off under anti-adminstration critics' butts.

The administration of not responding to their gibes or dumb questions is paying off. They take silence for lack of an intelligent plan and the resolve to carry it out.

[alethia]

Ya know -- I just love this guy!!! I'm so glad he did this. I was SOOOOOO tired of listening to the lamestream BMWC (BitXH, Whine, Moan and Complain) about not having news -- then the turkeys start making it up as they go along!!! I was livid!!!

You go Mr. Vice President -- you are one of my all time favorites -- and a hero and role model/mentor to me!!!

[Clintons a commie]

Y'know, I can remember a time when I liked Kristol. I didn't always agree with him but I respected hi and enjoyed his editorials as well as THE WEEKLY STANDARD mag.But during the Republican Primaries something something seemed to happen to him. He was always attacking Bush; for me the last straw was when he was hyper critical of Bush for mentioning that Jesus was the philosopher who had the greatest influence on his life. And his weak predictions-ie, McCain would be the Republican nominee,etc. The guy has completely sold out.

[GretchenEE]

bttt

[Snow Bunny]

CHENEY is the MAN. tah dah !!!

Three cheers for Cheney !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[lormand]

McAuliffe, McAinal....whats the difference?

[Califreeper]

MY MAN CHENEY DOES IT AGAIN!!! I KNEW HE WAS TERRIFIC WHEN I STOOD FIVE FEET FROM HIM AT A CHENEY/POWELL SPEECH BEFORE LAST YEAR'S ELECTION. HE IS BRILLIANT, AND IT ALWAYS SHOWS IN HIS SPEECHES! THE CROWD WENT ABSOLUTELY WILD OVER HIM. PARDON ME FOR SHOUTING HERE, BUT I AM SOOOOO PLEASED AT THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS!

[Scott from the Left Coast]

The McCains and Bidens of the world have pea shooters. Cheney is packin' a 150mm howitzer.

[Califreeper]

Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Rice -- THAT'S IT! That's the quartet we have to thank for our victories. But let's not forget our (new?) friend, Tony Blair, who has been OUTSTANDING throughout this heinous mess. And Putin, geez, I hope he has a great time at W's Texas ranch -- can't you just see him in a cowboy hat and boots?

[tubebender]

Thank goodness the children of the clinton years (the dark ages) have been put to bed.

[jwalsh07]

Andrew Sullivan is taking nominations for pundits who were most wrong about this war

My personal nominees:

Joe bin Biden
John McNut
Jay Severin, Libertarian talk show host in Boston who worships McNut.
CSPAN callers
Harry Browne
Anybody who told me about how thw Russians lost the ten year war.

[SmartBlonde]

I used my 'blonde smarts' to look up the 'military expert' who has been featured on Hardball the past 6 weeks. His name is Bill Arkin. The crawl never shows his credentials, just 'CNBC Military Analyst'. Well, get a load of THIS. He's a member of the NRDC, the Natural Resources Defense Council. Their lovely (not) slanted website features guest editorial by Robert Redford, a whole section devoted to slamming Bush, etc. Check out the site:

http://www.nrdc.org#nuclear

Some 'military' expert. He has some experience at Los Alamos, which makes me doubly suspicious.

Cheney was on the right track with his pointed criticisms today. I was standing in front of the TV screaming and cheering, urging him on. He is perfect to do this since he has a good military track record with the public.

[dodger]

BTW: sure would be interesting to know what the Special Ops guys are doing elsewhere in the world, now that everybody's watching Afghanistan ....

Indeed, Saddam and Assard fils may soon catch 'pneumonia'.

[dodger]

... and we may as well throw Fidel into the compost heap of history, too ...

[OldFriend]

How about Chrissie sissie Matthews complaining that the military was being too 'dainty'.