Cheney to Democrats: Weakness Invites Terror

[fishface]

Tue Jul 27, 2004 02:48 PM ET


By Adam Entous
CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. (Reuters) - Flanked by American flags and howitzers, Vice President Dick Cheney on Tuesday defended the war in Iraq and a policy of preemptive attack against criticism from Democrats at their national convention.

With President Bush staying out of the political fray at his Crawford, Texas, ranch, Cheney was on the West Coast to rally fellow Republicans for the November election and counter charges by Democrats meeting in Boston.

"Terrorist attacks are not caused by the use of strength. They are invited by the perception of weakness," Cheney said at Camp Pendleton on the Southern California coast.

Cheney said Americans were safer and he stood by prewar characterizations of Iraq as a threat despite the failure to find weapons of mass destruction and new warnings by Cheney and other administration officials that another major terrorist attack may be coming.

http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml;jsessionid=PSKALJBEBKQNGCRBAEZSFFA?type=topNews&storyID=5788729

Yeah...no shit Chainbag!

[shoelace414]

1. I wonder if he means

the weakness of an overstretched military. or the proof that we can't run a middle eastern country.

[fishface]

4. "You have to re-elect George Bush because he'll protect us

in the dangerous world that he's made so much safer"..

[maggrwaggr]

8. yes, like having our National Guard overseas, our military where

They didn't need to be in the first place.

Cheney and Bush have destroyed our national security.

If our military is needed anywhere in the world now, it would not be able to respond due to it being tied down in Iraq.

Our National Guard is overseas, not here protecting his beloved "Homeland".

The "republicans are more stronger militarily" is a LIE with these people.

[Ganja Ninja]

20. Maybe he means ...

the weakness of a dimwitted president with no statesmanship ability whatsoever driving away allies and alienating the entire planet! Maybe he means the weakness caused by a corrupt puppeteer working behind the scenes to siphon off profits from a ill-advised war.

[west michigan]

46. maybe when the Chinese fighter

hit our surveilance plane and the Chinese had our soldiers captive. Yeah he had balls of steel when that happened.

[TahitiNut]

57. Translation: "We invaded Afghanistan and Iraq because they're weak."

:shrug: Nevermind the fact that spending more on our military than the rest of the world combined still isn't enough to be the greedy, power-obsessed bully of Dick GFY Cheney's wet dreams.

[shockingelk]

2. Democrats to Cheney:

"Strength and wisdom are not opposing values."

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

25. Democrats to Cheney - Go fuck yourself!

and Shove it!

[MidwestTransplant]

3. We are a weakened country in the eyes of the world

and I agree that invites terrorism.

[BloodyWilliam]

5. Rhetoric about "strength" and "weaknes"...

And people wonder why we make Nazi comparisons.

[Beetwasher]

6. Guess What Douche? YOU Were The WEAK ASSHOLE IN CHARGE

When the terrorists attacked!

[sinkingfeeling]

13. Bush must have looked pretty weak on 9/11/01 since

we were attacked then and not during Clinton's administration, hey Dickwad?

[Massacure]

7. Whens the last time Canada had a terrorist attack?

[Brotherjohn]

12. Exactly. And Israel's strength has obviously made them terrorist-free.

[geek tragedy]

23. And it was the bold use of force that stopped IRA terrorism in the UK n/t

[Brotherjohn]

9. Once again, the "false dichotomy" is dredged up.

"We will fight them on their shores so we do not have to do so on our own."
"We either invade Iraq, or we do nothing."

These people's logic is nonexistent.

[kingdamon]

10. Only a jackass would be so simplistic...

Another way to look at things is...

by making up b/s excuses to exert your force on one who is no where near your equal implies your a bully... and therefore weak. How's about them apples... you bloated corpse...

[Cha]

11. Is that what ol' "go fuck yourself" was doing when 9/11 occurred?

Being WEAK? Ya bet!

[Worst Username Ever]

14. Actually dick, the over-use of our military strength is what causes terra,

you dumb old f**k

[My Pet Goat]

15. How about...

being attacked by Osama but then invading Iraq while Osama goes free invites defeat?

[Catfight]

16. CRAZY Cheney. He's a wack job.

[annxburns]

17. Strength and Wisdom are not opposing values ...

...nuff said.

[gratuitous]

18. It sure does, Crashcart

And after being foiled in their millennium attacks by a strong American president, they waited and bided their time. When they saw what a weak simpleton the current occupant of the White House is, they made their move. And according to the dope in charge at that time, they were pretty effective and well-coordinated.

When we get a new leader, we'll be a lot safer.

[piece sine]

49. thank you, gratuituous

In the middle of all the angry (but useless) name-calling about Cheney, I finally glob-onto a response with logic, wit and fast-facts. Something I will remember when arguing around the office cooler tomorrow. So thanks for doing more than just venting...the stakes are high and we need real ammo not loud WHAM-MO to get Bush out of the White House.

[sundancekid]

19. another footnote for the 9/11 commission; so, BushCheney invited 9/11

there you have it from the horse's mouth ...

BREAKING NEWS: Cheney finalizes the 9/11 Report with Who to Hold Responsible

Do these repukes not even listen to their own orifices?

[MrBenchley]

21. This Looks Like A Job For Pretzelboy...

Jeeze, could there BE a weaker suck on the planet than Chimpy? He couldn't even testify before his own 9/11 commission except behind closed doors, not under oath and with Cheney to hold his hand....

[progressivebydesign]

22. BULLSHIT.

I see Cheney has no new ideas.. just flying by the jock-strap machismo (which is sooo funny from a pasty, soft old man that can barely even walk a flight of stairs!).

[Bandit]

24. I guess hatred has nothing to do with it...

These guys are so full of shit that it makes your head hurt. If we were weak they wouldn't need to use terrorism. They could attack with conventional forces. His logic is not.

[HuckleB]

26. Aww. Poor Dick. Now that the 9/11 Commission has shown him to be weak...

he's gone completely insane.

What a fuckhead!

[0007]

27. Please Please

(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((gong)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))


Please Mr. Gas Bag please sit your rusty dusty down

[liveoaktx]

28. Dems to Cheney: Secrecy invites Corruptioni

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

29. He is 100% correct. It does, it DID, and the way to prevent it: Vote Kerry

[sofa king]

69. I concur.

It is the enemy who perceives the weaknesses. But America's greatest weakness was and remains our inaccurate self-perception of strength. The Gremlin-in-Chief and his cohorts are the people responsible for perpetuating that inaccuracy. We need to throw them the hell out right now.

[DoYouEverWonder]

72. This is what Card really said to W

The flights out of Dulles and Newark are running behind schedule. Just sit here and look dumb for a few minutes more. It's almost over.

[stickdog]

30. And "bring it on" invites what, Dick?

What does tying naked Iraqis together bring, Dick? World peace?

[Triana]

31. Bill Clinton to BUTTHEAD Cheney...

Strength and Wisdom are NOT opposing values!

IDIOT!

[wrate]

32. Cheney is sooo discredited by now, I doubt anyone with an IQ higher than

the room temperature would by pretzels from him, let alone listen to his idiotic line of bs.

[fishface]

38. Careful..

you're talking about almost half of the idiots in this country!

[frylock]

33. bushco© appearance at another military base..

surprise surprise.

[indepat]

34. So the attacks of 9/11 were invited by a perception of weakness:

Cheney's comments are Cheneying unbelievable, considering how much our defenses were don't in spite of warnings from around of world of impending attacks. UnbeCheneyingly utter nonsense.

[librechik]

35. ...and IGNORANCE is STRENGTH!

Thank you, Big Brother

[lebkuchen]

36. If we just say FUCK YOU loud enough, maybe that will keep terror at bay

FUCK YOU CHENEY.

[Hobarticus]

37. Does every Cheney photo look like something out of a Third Reich newsreel?

The man looks like he's come unhinged, every time he speaks.

[KittyWampus]

39. Cheney's Weakness For Making A Buck By Illegally Selling To Iran Certainly

invited terror...

[Disturbed]

42. War Criminal!

This scum is a War Criminal, Death Profiteer who should be indicted for his many crimes.

Yes, Amerika is weak in it's defense of the nation. Had the money that has been wasted in the illegal invasion and occupation on Iraq been spent on nation security, Amerika would be safer and stronger; still no amount of defense can stop terrorist attacks because the policies of Amerika toward the ME invite such attacks. The policies of Imperialism must stop!

[lovedems]

40. Since it is a matter of WHEN and not IF, who is going to ask the question

"I thought we were safer?" What flavor is the Kool-Aid? It must be good because half of our nation believe this bullshit! Weakness, terror, weakness, terror, no values, terror, weakness, etc. I am sick of Dickhead. He is like a big zit that needs to be popped.

[mzmolly]

41. Let's see *dick* a war hero vs. two yellow bellies making money off an

illegal, immoral, war?

I think if I were Saddam, ooops, I mean OSAMA. I got confused for a split second too...

However, were I Osama, I'd prefer you idiots to the intelligent Mr. Kerry and his VP selection, John Edwards.

Afterall, aren't YOU in Iraq instead of protecting Americans? Wouldn't we have faired much better *as a country* had you not lined your pockets off the blood of Dead Iraqi children, and fought the REAL war on terror!?

Go F yourself Cheney.

[Zorra]

43. Yuh. The terrorists didn't wait long to attack after Bu$h was selected

They saw a weak spot and hit it quick, you betcha, Dick.

I'm having a stroke. Cheney finally said something that smacks of truth.

So are you going to vote for John Kerry?

[xchrom]

44. dick? when you're right, you're right

and that's why they attacked on your watch.
your resignation will be in here, when?

[dave29]

45. Projecting Strength Just Means you are Hiding Weakness

We just need to be Americans, not macho cowboy facsimiles of ourselves. Please, Dick Cheney, let us be optomistic Americans again, that is where our true strength lies.

The world once loved us because we were a place where everyones voice counted, and there was the promise of equality under the law, and of equality of opportunity. It was in that way that we "projected" strength - our diversity, our innovation, and our philosophy was sound.

Then you and yours decided that in order to "project strength" in the face of terror, you needed to take away some of our liberties. You decided that the right way was the RIGHT's way, no debate allowed, or even necessary. And you decided that in order to project strength, you had to defeat a two-bit army on the strongly projected, but ultimately rejected case of WMD's in Iraq. You sold a war you didn't know how to win... is that strength? No, it's just stupid.

"Projecting" strength is not enough, Dick Cheney, you have to actually BE strong. One would think such a successful CEO would know that. The bottom line always comes to light, no matter how deeply you bury the numbers - just ask Ken Lay - or those employees of Halliburton whom have not yet been kidnapped and beheaded because of your projected "strength".

In order to have real strength, my dear Vice President, you must not have a divided country. Or a country that is told to always be afraid. Or a country that has to give up freedoms as their "patriotic duty".

I'm very serious when I say this... I am an American, and a patriot, there is no "patriot act" going on here. You have not made us stronger, but so much weaker. Are we projecting strength with our economy? How does turning the economy from a surplus to the worst deficts ever - project strength? Are we projecting strength with our inability to protect the country we just "liberated"?

Most importantly, Are YOU projecting strength, Mr. Vice President, when YOU HIDE LIKE A COWARD IN A FREAKIN UNDISCLOSED LOCATION while the rest of us remain ever vigilant in the face of your failed policies - and your moranic color-coded reminders of just how badly they ARE failing?

Of course not. I don't think you have a clue what strength is. Strength is not blowing things up. It doesn't have to be "projected", it is innate and obvious. Swagger does not equal strength, but a calm measured apporach does. "Bring it on" does not equal strength. "Go fuck yourself" does not project strength, or anything close to it. Secrecy and Division do not equal strength - take that one to heart.

Bottom line, you only need to project strength if you are trying to cover up weakness. So you guys can "project" whatever you want, I realize it's all about the marketing with you... just do it on someone elses time. I'd like to be allowed to be an American again, where all we have to do is let them see our diversity, and our freedoms.

That's what makes them scared. A real pity you don't get that.

[Rex]

47. Wow, Cheney actually said something that was true!

"Terrorist attacks are not caused by the use of strength. They are invited by the perception of weakness," Cheney said at Camp Pendleton on the Southern California coast. - Dick 'Go Fuck Yourself!" Cheney.

The first part is pure crapola - one mans terrorist is another mans freedom fighter (Cheney must have hated the Gipper), but the second part is ABSOLUTELY TRUE - America was perceived as weak because we let the GOP steal the presidential election in 2000. Since there was no legitimacy, there was no one REALLY at the Helm of State.

Thanks for pointing that out, Dick.

[fob]

53. "perception of weakness" - Finally a kernel of truth from this admin

And can you explain what "perception" and how it came about you are referring to dick?

Let's review...
Bill Clinton - major effort to foil millenium bombing plots, et al. Works 24/7
Janet Reno - Refuses NOT ONE FISA request
Hart/Rudman - 2 years in the making
Gore Commission on Airport/plane safety - scuttled by repuke congress
Economy - Rock solid, allowed for resources to combat problem areas

So Use/display of Strength = USA Safe

Then...
bush* talks DOWN economy during a PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN (terraists gotta like the sound of that)
bush* pulls coup to take power (terraists gotta be IMPRESSED by that)
Hart/Rudman - Publically rebuked by bush*, tasks cheney* to START OVER
Ashcroft - DENIES every FISA request, drops terrorism from top priorites list, moves New Orleans prostitutes into top 7
bush* - takes lots of vacations


So in summary, I am flabbergasted to have something I AGREE with dick cheney!!

[Rex]

61. Yeah same here - Hell must be freezing over as I type this.

nt

[PROUDNWLIBERAL]

48. Graduation Day

Fuck-You speaking to the troops before they left for Iraq for a year+extended time. What a piece of moral drizzle! Turn the pacemaker off Dick and do us all a favor!

[Aunt Anti-bush]

50. A desire to rule the world by way of force invites regime change.

That's what I'd like to tell Cheney.

[whosinpower]

51. Total idiot

Here is a newsflash....which nations of the world are INVITING more terrorist attack?????????? Is it the weakest ones - or the strongest ones??????????????

How he can stand there and blather on and people actually listen to him is beyond my reckoning.

[Rose Siding]

52. Sorry boo boo. Wisdom and strength are not opposing values.

This strategy began with 'girlie men'. His remark to Leahy was probably calculated.

[lottie244]

54. So, Bush's "weakness" invited 9/11? I get it.

Well what kind of "strength" has been inviting all those kiddnappings and bombings? Our military is there with all its strength and the so-called "terrorists" keep on coming in both Iraq and Afghanistan.
Mr. Cheney, please explain this?

[moondust]

58. Yes!!

I want an explanation!!

[The_Casual_Observer]

55. This is the emerging "trump card"

No matter what has happened since 9/11 chimp pretends he is the mighty crusading christian warrior. Nevermind that they did nothing on the lead up to 9/11, falsely assuming that whatever UBL was going to do would take place someplace else, thus giving good justification for an attack of Afgahanstan and or Iraq.

[Q]

56. AMERICA IS SAFER BUT ANOTHER MAJOR ATTACK IS COMING?

- Does Cheney even notice the contradictions in this statement?

[Eurobabe]

71. Crashcart Cheney = SKEWED LOGIC 101

[wishlist]

59. Like the weakness of Bush being on vacation for a month before 9/11

and doing nothing about the Bin laden warnings he received before 9/11

[truthisfreedom]

60. got news for ya cheney: neocons CREATE terrorists, and that means neocons

CREATE TERROR.

[Disturbed]

62. Evil doers and killers that kill.

I believe that they should be brought to justice. Let's start with Dumbass, Darth Cheney, Asscrack and Rumsfailed.

[BayouBengal07]

63. Well in honesty...

terrorist attacks ARE caused by strength...for every bomb that is dropped, we lose another heart and mind to those who feel that all they get out of America is bombs and billboards.

But by the same token, we can't just allow acts to continue. I don't know if war is the answer, but inaction certainly isn't either.

And they don't hate us because of our "freedom" (as is evident by Saudi Prince Bandar's assertion that bin Laden told him to thank the US for its help in Afghanistan, as well as bin Laden's 1998 fatwa that said our support for Israel, permanent bases in Saudi Arabia, and incursions in Iraq as his reasons for hating us).

Someone should ask Cheney if Reagan's removal of Marines from Lebanon after the bombing there helped cause the current wave of terrorism.

[struggle4progress]

64. Cheney Attacks Kerry, Edwards to Marines

Wednesday July 28, 2004 4:31 AM
By MICHELLE MORGANTE
Associated Press Writer

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. (AP) - Vice President Dick Cheney told Marines that Democrats John Kerry and John Edwards voted in favor of the use of force against Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein but changed their tune on the question of providing money to the troops fighting in Iraq.
<snip>

Cheney ridiculed Kerry's explanations of why he opposed the funding for the troops.
<snip>

After his speech, Cheney presented medals to Marines home from Iraq.
<snip>

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uslatest/story/0,1282,-4358891,00.html

[Jack Rabbit]

65. Jack Rabbit to GOP: Cheney invites conflict of interest

!!

[Toucano]

66. What did Dick do between Jan and Sept. 2001 to strengthen

the (according to his argument) weak America? If we were weak when he got there what did he do about it?

Oh, now I remember! He headed an "energy task force" and hosted secret meetings with his largest campaign contributors.

You had 9 months. You did squat. Your lose your turn.

[opihimoimoi]

67. Wait a friggen minute...Cheney was supposed to be in charge of Terrorism

Protection.

The weakness came about through a weak detection system caused by the Bush Administration.

The fault is the Pubs, they blew it and they know it...

[RFKHumphreyObama]

68. Case in point is your Administration Dick

Although considering how close you were with the Saudis and the previous Iraqi regime, perhaps that should have been phrased "complicity invites terror"

[Barkley]

73. Cheney got exactly right!

Indeed the WORST terrorist attack U.S. history occured under the WEAKEST administration in U.S. history.

I believe that 9-11 terrorist waited until after Clinton was out of office because the certainty of non-action by the Bush administration as well as the important Saudi businesses contacts you mentioned.

[pinniped]

70. And there are still morans blindly supporting these idiots.

Those goons must have taken a blood oath or something.

[Disturbed]

75. Ignorance & low IQs

That is the bulk of Middle Class supporters of the Bush Neo Fascists.

They have no clue regarding the Neo Fascists domestic policies. They don't have a clue about the Neo Fascist's Imperialism. I doubt if they know what the word means. They are people that don't take the time to study domestic &/or foreign policy and only follow what assholes like Rush and other Right Wingnutz tell them to believe and they believe without quesitions what the Neo Fascists leaders spout out. Also, most of them are anti-abortion, pro-guns, anti-gay and pro-school prayer, anti-evolution and pro-creationist crap. There millions of these folk.

[Norquist Nemesis]

74. "See those howitzers?"

They're fully loaded, aimed and ready.

"Terrorist attacks are not caused by the use of strength. They are invited by the perception of weakness," Cheney said at Camp Pendleton on the Southern California coast.

Yes, Dickie boy. The real question is not what causes the attacks, but WHY they become terrorists in the first place?

[sendero]

76. Billy to Cheney....

... abject stupidity and corruption invite ruin. Thanks a lot dick.

[Q]

77. If Cheney were a Democrat...the media would constantly point out...

...that he received FIVE deferments and never served. NOW he moans about others not 'supporting' the military?

- It's simple: Bush* and Cheney have no conscience and are hypocrites to the highest order because THEY have no sense of duty to country. For them...it's what their country can do for THEM...not what they can do for their country.