We Read Cheney’s Buffoonish Editorial About Obama and Iraq So You Don’t Have To
Concluding our trilogy of Republicans who we shouldn’t take seriously on Iraq, patient zero in the series has to be former Vice President Dick Cheney. His total lack of credibility in this issue notwithstanding, The Wall Street Journal published an editorial by Cheney, titled “The Collapsing Obama Doctrine: Rarely has a U.S. president been so wrong about so much at the expense of so many,” in which he blasted the Obama administration’s handling of Iraq. It’s an article so completely loaded with irony, contradictions and hypocrisy that it’ll be difficult to unpack without bloating this post into a novel-length volume.
Right off the bat in the first paragraph, Cheney — Dick Cheney of all people — accused President Obama of making three false statements about terrorism in the context of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS).
1) Obama: “If a JV team puts on Lakers uniforms that doesn’t make them Kobe Bryant.” Obama wasn’t referring to ISIS when he said this. He was referring to small jihadist cells with little or no affiliation with al-Qaeda.
2) Obama: “[C]ore al-Qaeda is on its heels, has been decimated.” This is mostly true, at least in terms of what Obama has accomplished since Cheney and Former President Bush left office (see also Osama Bin Laden). He specifically said “core al-Qaeda,” not branch affiliates or other groups. Furthermore, Cheney recently praised Obama’s drone policy against terrorists. Among others killed by the Obama administration in drone and other attacks include: “Atiyah Abd al-Rahman, the No. 2 to current leader Ayman al Zawahiri; Sayeed al-Masri, No. 3 in the hierarchy; and Abu Ayyub al Masri, the leader of al-Qaeda in Iraq.”
3) Obama: “So, let there be no doubt: The tide of war is receding.” This is also empirically true. The small deployment to Baghdad this week aside, the broader Iraq War ended in 2011, and the Afghanistan War is quickly wrapping up.
Worse yet, Cheney in his very first sentence exaggerated the number of Iraqi soldiers executed by ISIS. Cheney said “thousands,” plural, implying two thousand or more. The best estimate is actually 1,700. “More than a thousand” or “just under 2,000” would’ve been more accurate in a paragraph intended to nitpick the allegedly inaccurate statements of the president.
And what about Cheney’s demonstrably false statements about Iraq alone?
“Simply stated, there is no doubt that Saddam Hussein now has weapons of mass destruction. There is no doubt he is amassing them to use against our friends, against our allies, and against us.”
“We learned more and more that there was a relationship between Iraq and al-Qaida that stretched back through most of the decade of the ’90s.”
“[Hussein] also had an established relationship with al Qaeda, providing training to al Qaeda members in the areas of poisons, gases, making conventional bombs.”
“There’s overwhelming evidence there was a connection between Al Qaeda and the Iraqi government.”
“My belief is we will, in fact, be greeted as liberators. I think it will go relatively quickly, weeks rather than months.”
“I think they’re in the last throes, if you will, of the insurgency.”
According to one study, top Bush administration officials made 935 false statements about Iraq. 48 of those were attributed to Vice President Pants-On-Fire.
Okay, so that was the first paragraph… READ MORE
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By: Bob Cesca
Bob Cesca is the managing editor at The Daily Banter (www.thedailybanter.com) and a Huffington Post contributor since 2005. He's worked in journalism since 1988 as a print writer/editor, a radio news anchor, a digital media columnist/editor, a book author and blogger. He's the co-host of the Bubble Genius Bob & Chez Show podcast and a Thursday regular on the syndicated Stephanie Miller Show. He's appeared on numerous other radio shows including the John Phillips Show and Geraldo Rivera Show in Los Angeles. Bob has been a commentator/analyst on the BBC (TV and radio), MSNBC, Current TV, CNN and Sky News. Following him on Twitter: @bobcesca_go
24 responses to We Read Cheney’s Buffoonish Editorial About Obama and Iraq So You Don’t Have To
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William June 18th, 2014 at 10:23
Yeah, that’s what I want to read. A chickenhawk writing an opinion on the blood for oil war that he and his pet squirrel George started.
William June 18th, 2014 at 10:23
Yeah, that’s what I want to read. A chickenhawk writing an opinion on the blood for oil war that he and his pet squirrel George started.
Oblowz June 18th, 2014 at 11:17
“In the four years since the inspectors left, intelligence reports show that Saddam Hus sein has worked to rebuild his chemical and biological weapons stock, his missile delivery capability, and his nuclear program. He has also given aid, comfort, and sanctuary to terrorists, including al Qaeda members … It is clear, however, that if left unchecked, Saddam Hus sein will continue to increase his capacity to wage biological and chemical warfare, and will keep trying to develop nuclear weapons.”
— Sen. Hillary Clinton (D, NY), Oct 10, 2002
Dwendt44 June 18th, 2014 at 12:33
Ya, Bush’s lies fools a lot of people.
Oblowz June 18th, 2014 at 11:17
“In the four years since the inspectors left, intelligence reports show that Saddam Hus sein has worked to rebuild his chemical and biological weapons stock, his missile delivery capability, and his nuclear program. He has also given aid, comfort, and sanctuary to terrorists, including al Qaeda members … It is clear, however, that if left unchecked, Saddam Hus sein will continue to increase his capacity to wage biological and chemical warfare, and will keep trying to develop nuclear weapons.”
— Sen. Hillary Clinton (D, NY), Oct 10, 2002
Dwendt44 June 18th, 2014 at 12:33
Ya, Bush’s lies fools a lot of people.
granpa.usthai June 18th, 2014 at 12:05
gee, I wonder if the ‘liberal’ lame stream media is aware of this, or will they not be able to authenticate any of it until after it takes a GOP POTUS a firm 1500 year solid pack agreement to provide Iraqi leadership 250,000 US troops to ‘clear up the mess POTUS OBAMA left in Iraq’?
granpa.usthai June 18th, 2014 at 12:05
gee, I wonder if the ‘liberal’ lame stream media is aware of this, or will they not be able to authenticate any of it until after it takes a GOP POTUS a firm 1500 year solid pack agreement to provide Iraqi leadership 250,000 US troops to ‘clear up the mess POTUS OBAMA left in Iraq’?
Obewon June 18th, 2014 at 13:42
Halliburton Cheney’s $6 T Weapons of Mass Deception Vs Reality: GW Bush knew Saddam had no weapons of mass destruction -Two former CIA officers say the president squelched top-secret intelligence, and a briefing by CIA Director George Tenet, months before invading Iraq.
On Sept. 18, 2002, CIA director George Tenet briefed President Bush in the Oval Office on top-secret intelligence that Saddam Hussein did not have weapons of mass destruction, according to two former senior CIA officers. http://www.salon.com/2007/09/06/bush_wmd/
Obewon June 18th, 2014 at 13:42
Halliburton Cheney’s $6 T Weapons of Mass Deception Vs Reality: GW Bush knew Saddam had no weapons of mass destruction -Two former CIA officers say the president squelched top-secret intelligence, and a briefing by CIA Director George Tenet, 6 months before invading Iraq.
On Sept. 18, 2002, CIA director George Tenet briefed President Bush in the Oval Office on top-secret intelligence that Saddam Hussein did not have weapons of mass destruction, according to two former senior CIA officers. http://www.salon.com/2007/09/06/bush_wmd/
granpa.usthai June 18th, 2014 at 16:08
no conscience
no guilt
no shame
GOPs Religion
f i n i
‘splains a lot.
granpa.usthai June 18th, 2014 at 16:08
no conscience
no guilt
no shame
GOPs Religion
f i n i
‘splains a lot.
Stan Ubeki June 18th, 2014 at 19:45
Cheney gets my vote as the most vile living American. Jeffrey Dahmer had more conscience and compassion.
TerryW June 19th, 2014 at 06:43
My vote too.
Stan Ubeki June 18th, 2014 at 19:45
Cheney gets my vote as the most vile living American. Jeffrey Dahmer had more conscience and compassion.
TerryW June 19th, 2014 at 06:43
My vote too.
Sam Freedom June 18th, 2014 at 20:48
” Obama wasn’t referring to ISIS when he said this. He was referring to smll jihadist cells with little or no affiliation with al-Qaeda.”
That’s bullshyt. This is an administration that orchestrated every single word for maximum effect. If nothing else, Obama should be crystal clear so that turds like you can’t argue he meant something else every time he puts his foot in his mouth.
“2) Obama: “[C]ore al-Qaeda is on its heels, has been decimated.” This is mostly true, at least in terms of what Obama has accomplished since Cheney and Former President Bush left office (see also Osama Bin Laden). He specifically said “core al-Qaeda,” not branch affiliates or other groups.”
This is why liberals make weak leaders. The war is on terrorists, most specifically, radical Islamists. To use only Al-Qaeda to suggest progress is a grave mistake, as we now see, and it gives liberals yet another opportunity to nitpick the shyt out of something irrelevant.
“Furthermore, Cheney recently praised Obama’s drone policy against terrorists. Among others killed by the Obama administration in drone and other attacks include: “Atiyah Abd al-Rahman, the No. 2 to current leader Ayman al Zawahiri; Sayeed al-Masri, No. 3 in the hierarchy; and Abu Ayyub al Masri, the leader of al-Qaeda in Iraq.”
Cheney praised the PROGRAM. That’s a world apart from praising Obama. Secondly, including Osama, have you actually seen any bodies? What a great way to help senior Al Qaeda retire. Pics or it never happened, right?
“3) Obama: “So, let there be no doubt: The tide of war is receding.” This is also empirically true.”
Empirically true? What a crock of shyt.
“The small deployment to Baghdad this week aside, the broader Iraq War ended in 2011, and the Afghanistan War is quickly wrapping up.”
Hahahahahaaa! Stay in your ivory tower, Rapunzel. Quickly wrapping up, lolol…
There is a world wide uprising of radical Islamist intent on restoring Sharia law. War isn’t even close to receding and Obama is either willfully ignorant of that or
is just plain lying as usual.
“Worse yet, Cheney in his very first sentence exaggerated the number of Iraqi soldiers executed by ISIS. Cheney said “thousands,” plural, implying two thousand or more. The best estimate is actually 1,700. “More than a thousand” or “just under 2,000″ would’ve been more accurate in a paragraph intended to nitpick the allegedly inaccurate statements of the president.”
Look who’s doing the nitpicking. Must feel great knowing only 1700 were murdered, huh? Also, I guess you think ISIS has a murder cap at 1,999… but it’s very likely, another 300 will be murdered and Cheney will be proved to be right.
Will you correct your propaganda then?
“And what about Cheney’s demonstrably false statements about Iraq alone?“
Cheney mirrored what all Democrats said under Clinton. And, for what little its worth, if like you to attribute your ALLEGED study.
cyberkim June 18th, 2014 at 21:23
Easy there, hoss. You’re sounding every bit unhinged as your warlord, Cheney
Sam Freedom June 19th, 2014 at 08:12
Thanks but I have no reason to give your opinion and more weight than, say, the town drunk.
Sam Freedom June 18th, 2014 at 20:48
” Obama wasn’t referring to ISIS when he said this. He was referring to smll jihadist cells with little or no affiliation with al-Qaeda.”
That’s bullshyt. This is an administration that orchestrated every single word for maximum effect. If nothing else, Obama should be crystal clear so that turds like you can’t argue he meant something else every time he puts his foot in his mouth.
“2) Obama: “[C]ore al-Qaeda is on its heels, has been decimated.” This is mostly true, at least in terms of what Obama has accomplished since Cheney and Former President Bush left office (see also Osama Bin Laden). He specifically said “core al-Qaeda,” not branch affiliates or other groups.”
This is why liberals make weak leaders. The war is on terrorists, most specifically, radical Islamists. To use only Al-Qaeda to suggest progress is a grave mistake, as we now see, and it gives liberals yet another opportunity to nitpick the shyt out of something irrelevant.
“Furthermore, Cheney recently praised Obama’s drone policy against terrorists. Among others killed by the Obama administration in drone and other attacks include: “Atiyah Abd al-Rahman, the No. 2 to current leader Ayman al Zawahiri; Sayeed al-Masri, No. 3 in the hierarchy; and Abu Ayyub al Masri, the leader of al-Qaeda in Iraq.”
Cheney praised the PROGRAM. That’s a world apart from praising Obama. Secondly, including Osama, have you actually seen any bodies? What a great way to help senior Al Qaeda retire. Pics or it never happened, right?
“3) Obama: “So, let there be no doubt: The tide of war is receding.” This is also empirically true.”
Empirically true? What a crock of shyt.
“The small deployment to Baghdad this week aside, the broader Iraq War ended in 2011, and the Afghanistan War is quickly wrapping up.”
Hahahahahaaa! Stay in your ivory tower, Rapunzel. Quickly wrapping up, lolol…
There is a world wide uprising of radical Islamist intent on restoring Sharia law. War isn’t even close to receding and Obama is either willfully ignorant of that or
is just plain lying as usual.
“Worse yet, Cheney in his very first sentence exaggerated the number of Iraqi soldiers executed by ISIS. Cheney said “thousands,” plural, implying two thousand or more. The best estimate is actually 1,700. “More than a thousand” or “just under 2,000″ would’ve been more accurate in a paragraph intended to nitpick the allegedly inaccurate statements of the president.”
Look who’s doing the nitpicking. Must feel great knowing only 1700 were murdered, huh? Also, I guess you think ISIS has a murder cap at 1,999… but it’s very likely, another 300 will be murdered and Cheney will be proved to be right.
Will you correct your propaganda then?
“And what about Cheney’s demonstrably false statements about Iraq alone?“
Cheney mirrored what all Democrats said under Clinton. And, for what little its worth, if like you to attribute your ALLEGED study.
cybergirl June 18th, 2014 at 21:23
Easy there, hoss. You’re sounding every bit unhinged as your warlord, Cheney
Sam Freedom June 19th, 2014 at 08:12
Thanks but I have no reason to give your opinion and more weight than, say, the town drunk.
TerryW June 19th, 2014 at 06:46
Deja Vu.
TerryW June 19th, 2014 at 06:46
Deja Vu.