Crooks and
Liars has the video up of vice-President Cheney’s comments to the AEI today.
He supported opposing views while still slamming Senators who feel the country
was mislead into war. Mr. Cheney should realize that those Senators are in the
company of a majority of this country.

He continued to say that Saddam would not comply with U.N. weapon inspectors.
I guess he should of watched the news coverage in 2002 when U.N. weapon
inspectors were destroying missiles in Iraq. Of course he also tried to reaffirm
a tie between Iraq and 9/11 once again. Kind of hard to defend yourself from
lying while standing in front of cameras and lying.

Some have suggested that liberating Iraq from Saddam Hussein we have
simply stirred up a hornets nest. The overlook a fundamental fact – we were
not in Iraq on September 11 2001 and the terrorists hit us anyway. The
reality is the terrorists were at war with our country long before the
liberation of Iraq and long before the attacks of 9/11.

Cheney did try and win the hearts of any military personnel who may have
heard his comments. He said that some people say the debate hurts our troops
when in fact he knows they will not waver because of debate at home. True he is
now calling most Republicans in Congress, including those who have served,
liars. They are the ones that continually bring up the so-called “negative
effect” those comments have on our troops.

Cheney also quotes the letter from al Qaedas number two to al Zaqarwi which
still has the authenticity in debate. Many have even argued that this letter is
something authored by our own leadership. Considering the continual use of this
letter without it being authenticated, I have to concur with that idea. Why
would our leader’s use this letter over and over again if it has not been
authenticated? They must feel it makes a good impact.

All in all, it was more of the same rhetoric. Cheney does seem to have toned
down the attacks some what, which was probably due to the President’s speech
yesterday. He encouraged that debate continue on the war but I wonder when him
or Bush will take the time to answer Congress’s questions on the war. Over all,
we can expect Cheney to stay at that 19% approval rating.

Think Progress has more on this speech.