The Cheney effect

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1 July 2009

Despite the fact that it is difficult to get any kind of news in the U.S. at the moment that doesn’t involve Michael Jackson, a substantial deadline passed today – the withdrawal of American troops from major Iraq cities. The Obama Whitehouse marked the development during an event in the East Wing. Someone else marked it with a round of media interviews and doomsday scenarios. That person of course is former Vice President and soon-to-be author, Dick Cheney.

For those who haven’t been following it – since leaving office, Vice President Cheney has done everything but observe the traditional respect shown to current Presidents by the chief office holders in the former Administration. He has openly criticized President Obama, taken him on head-to-head on national security and torture, suggested that he has made the nation less safe, and now raises the specter of escalated violence in Iraq to criticize the withdrawal of troops. The problem with his latest statements is that it was not the Obama Administration that ordered this current withdrawal, it was President G.W. Bush.

At least we know that former Vice President Cheney hasn’t lost his knack for politics. By raising the possibility of further violence either in the U.S. or overseas, Cheney believes that he can stir up doubt about the current President and then take credit for his foresight if anything should negative happen. Thankfully so far, it doesn’t seem to be working. He currently has a 26% approval rating, compared to Obama’s 60%. Another poll released today shows that nearly three-quarters of all Americans support the plan to withdraw most U.S. combat troops from Iraqi cities and towns, even though most respondents said they think the troop movements will lead to an increase in violence.

Some might suggest that Vice President Cheney is simply defending his record. (Goodness knows, he has a LOT to defend.) Others might suggest that he is rallying the Republican base in the face of otherwise clueless leadership and scandal. But sadly it might be even simpler than that – he has a book to sell.

That the former Vice President is trying to cast aspersions on the current President for a policy that was put in place by his own Administration, is hypocritical and dishonest. That he seeks to defend his Administration’s failed and unsuccessful practice of torture is worrisome. That he continues to play politics with Americans minds by suggesting that there may be more violence in Iraq and another terrorist attack on U.S. soil is disingenuous and deceitful. But that he is doing it all in conjunction with an upcoming book is downright repugnant.