Cheney's 'cheap and easy lines' criticized by Sen. Levin

Source: Det News
Washington -- Sen. Carl Levin of Michigan today criticized former Vice President Dick Cheney for "cheap and easy lines" in his recent sharp criticism of President Barack Obama over Afghanistan.

Levin, D-Detroit, the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, didn't mention the former Republican vice president by name. But it was clear whom he was zeroing in on because he quoted zingers Cheney delivered last week in charging Obama is taking too long to decide on strategy and U.S. troop strength in Afghanistan.

"There are some in Washington who are willing to toss cheap and easy lines about presidential 'dithering,' or alleging the president is 'afraid' to reach a decision, in an effort to push him to immediately, indeed automatically, endorse recommendations from a general who is highly capable, but whose focus is understandably more narrow than that of (Defense) Secretary (Robert) Gates or President Obama," Levin said in a speech to the Rand Corporation on Capitol Hill.

"This pressure on the president goes beyond mistaken. It creates a political environment that is not just poisonous; it is dangerous -- it creates growing pressure for decisions before the president has considered all the options, when what the nation needs and the troops deserve is careful, thoughtful deliberation. The wrong decisions could endanger far more lives than taking the time needed to deliberate and reach the right decisions," Levin said. LinkHere