Hawkish Cheney renews attack but attracts only flak

Edited on Thu Nov-17-05 08:17 PM by twaddler01

Vice-president's popularity and influence have waned in line with public support for Iraq conflict

DICK CHENEY’S steely presence used to be seen as one of the great strengths of the Bush Administration. Not any more.
The 64-year-old Vice-President has re-emerged on to the public stage after weeks in the White House freezer with an attack on critics of the Iraq policy he did so much to promote.

But far from bolstering his President, Mr Cheney’s assault appeared to have merely encouraged growing criticism of his uncompromising style.

“The President and I cannot prevent certain politicians from losing their memory, or their backbone, but we’re not going to let them rewrite history,” Mr Cheney said in a Wednesday night speech aimed at Democrats who accuse the White House of misleading America over Iraq.

He went on: “The suggestion that’s been made by some US senators that the President or any member of this Administration purposely misled the American people on prewar intelligence is one of the most dishonest and reprehensible charges ever aired in this city.

“The saddest part is that our people in uniform have been subjected to these cynical and pernicious falsehoods day in and day out.”

The speech, delivered to a conservative policy group, drew a furious response. Harry Reid, leader of the Senate’s Democrat minority, said that it showed the Administration planned to continue putting its political fortunes ahead of America’s needs.