'Threat Is There'

" And we continued -- more of my exclusive interview with Vice President Dick Cheney. If we border examined once again the nine elevenths commission report. The thing that I was able to glean from that more than any one other thing was that they war war with -- us. We -- at war with them. Now Barack Obama says it's either remain cause disaster -- an overseas contingency operation. How dangerous is that it did not call it what it is is there's still a war on terror he just doesn't have the courage to say it's a war on terror."

" I think you don't keep -- shown because. Nine elevenths bush absolutely crucial to an end I think one of the most important things we did in the aftermath of nine elevenths was to decide. That you could no longer deal with an attack of terror upon the United States is a law enforcement problem he didn't just. Plow through the rubble for example in the Oklahoma City and find the identification number on the U haul truck in the underground track. That Tim McVeigh used to blow up that federal building that's the way we did it in the past and go out and investigate crime and and punish criminal. Once we get hit by -- by on nine elevenths and lost 3000 people a day we recognize them and one of the key decisions President Bush made. That this is not a law enforcement problem it is strategic threat to the United States into war. And based on that we then adopted a whole set of policies. That flowed out of that proposition we were prepared to use military force we were prepared to go after not only terrorists. But those who sponsor terror provide sanctuary and safe harbor form we were prepared to use our intelligence assets the way we would've -- They an enemy that threaten the United States itself. To put in place first simple things like the terror surveillance program and have a robust interrogation program on detainees. Those -- the -- should take when you feel your war in the very existence of the nation's threatened. Now why were you when I hear the new administration. Knock down those policies and an implied they're not going to use them. But also when they now say that the war on terrorism then changed -- now. Overseas contingency operations that's -- does that seem like a weakness -- is that telegraphing weakness I think it does and I think it says. Two -- to the world out there that. This is no longer a war. This law enforcement and our most important obligation responsibility. Is to read their rights to the people when we capture that. We're going to treat -- Morgan Moran guys and before we. Before we do anything else and I really had just I spent so many mornings sitting down then my office and then in the Oval Office from the present. The win over the briefings looking at al-Qaeda look you know what their plans were not knowing that they were seeking nuclear weapons. Knowing that the next deadly attack could well be out al-Qaeda. In the middle of one of our own cities now was. Airline tickets and box cutters but the with a nuclear weapons or biological agent. The threat is there it's very real and its continuing. And what the Obama people are doing an effective cinema we don't need those tough policies. That we had. And that says -- they didn't work. Which we know is not the case they didn't work they kept us safe for seven years or that now somehow the threats going away. There's no longer thrown out there. We don't have to be as tough and aggressive as the Bush Administration wants tiniest mistake I just I think that's a misreading of the circumstances we find ourselves in. I -- in on -- this whole exercise on. -- the detainees and on releasing me I'm on the legal memos. You know Roland the professionals the -- CIA address CIA director former superiors slam -- glamorous. -- it was dangerous that this is something we shouldn't do. I I worry about that house who noticed yesterday. We didn't have any national security figures out there explaining. The new policy why we were scrubbing -- programs that -- the political spokesman that were out there. That bothers me I think that says something about the mindset that this is being done. Essentially to appease certain element of the Democratic Party. More because of campaign commitments that were made in last year's campaign. But it's not being done nor is it being so except in sort and explained. Based on the views of the experts who deal nation -- some of the same issue."

" We think their belief that they don't visit that they don't understand. The nature of evil in the world would mean -- live in the may be some of the specifics. Did you shake hands -- Hugo Chavez. Would you sit through a fifteen minute diatribe of Daniel Ortega. Would you go to Mexico and apologizes -- as if America cause Mexico's problems would you bow before the Saudi king. It seems to be and bottom instances here. Very different philosophy. You know what he said world war with the Muslim morals. Just to give you a few -- we've liberated America. Michael we just liberated fifty million people in them in the Muslim world between Iraq and Afghanistan. When you put all these together. You know when he is what do you conclude do you conclude its benign eve. That may be hit him don't understand the nature of the war on terror."

" Yes basically. I think. There's the the assumption. Seems to predominate on the other side that the reason there's been problems in the world is because US. Activity US conduct. We're the bad guys who were the ones that lead. People to become terrorists. -- were the ones that can generate the kind of criticism. That has and given al-Qaeda and excuse. To come attacked the United States. I don't think that's true I don't think they needed any excuse when they came here on 9/11. Killed 3000 of us. I don't think as we. Strip ourselves an important capabilities in terms of our interrogation program for detainees. I don't think there are members of al-Qaeda around the world this morning sale gee whiz isn't that great. -- Barack Obama and his administration are no longer going to -- our guys it's tough questions or make them when they capture. Now maybe we won't be had there -- people they capture criminals just. -- did says and there are a mindset that worry about him very much. And I think I think there's a big problem out there. Nationally in the sense that we are seven and half years almost eight years now away from an eleven. And a lot of people would like yet than them believe that the threat is gone it's diminished it's the spirit. Unfortunately that's not case and one of the worst things we can do is start to act now as though the attack of 9/11 is a thing of the past will never be repeated that's just not true."