Apr 13, 2007 11:47 pm US/Eastern
Cheney In Chicago, Blasts Democrats On Iraq War
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
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Dick Cheney gave a speech at a meeting of the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank.
CBS
This weekend will mark 100 days since Democrats took control of Congress. And Vice President Dick Cheney went to Chicago Friday to denounce their policies.
CBS station WBBM-TV in Chicago Political Editor Mike Flannery reports that, while Cheney accused Democrats of plotting the "largest tax increase in American history," he focused his energy on foreign policy.
Cheney was welcomed by a standing ovation from fellow conservatives at the Heritage Foundation. The vice president told them that Democrats are threatening American security by passing legislation with deadlines for troop withdrawal from Iraq.
"It is impossible to argue that an unconditional timetable for retreat could serve the security interests of the United States or our friends in the region," Cheney said. "It sends a message to our enemies that the calendar is their friend."
Like the vice president, members of the Heritage Foundation favor a strong military and a commitment to the War in Iraq.
Cheney earlier told a local radio station that the person appointed to a new war czar post will coordinate several government organizations involved in rebuilding both Iraq and Afghanistan. He says the czar will "ride roughshod if necessary over the bureaucracy to make sure we get the job done."
Cheney declared repeatedly that the far left has seized control of the Democratic Party, warning of potentially catastrophic consequences for the American people.
"The far left is again taking hold of the Democratic Party's agenda with a series of ill-considered actions in the House and Senate over the last several months causes me to wonder whether today's Democrats fully appreciate the nature of the danger this country faces in the war on terror," he said.
The Senate's number two Democrat disagreed.
"I think the American people know better," said Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin. "We need a new direction in Iraq."
He added that the Bush-Cheney Administration's record of incompetence in Iraq had undercut credibility even with the troops.
"A policy that is leading nowhere. We now have over 150,000 American soldiers caught in the crossfire of a civil war," Durbin said. "That is something we never bargained for."
While the vice president did not mention the Democratic senators running forp, his remarks could certainly have been aimed at them. Both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama have endorsed a timetable for withdrawing troops from Iraq, which Cheney predicted would lead to disaster for America.
(© 2007 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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