Dick Cheney on 'FNS'

" And hello again from Fox News and Washington. The Obama Justice Department made big news this -- launching a review that could lead to prosecution of CIA officers. Now you'll hear from former Vice President Dick Cheney Barack Obama's leading product when it comes to the war on terror. On Friday we traveled -- Cheney is vacation home just outside Jackson Hole Wyoming. He told us he feels -- now that he has left office announced -- see Cheney was surprisingly candid not only about this president. But also about areas where he disagreed with President Bush. Mr. vice president welcome back to fire."

" It is Sunday it's going to be backers. This is your first interview since attorney general holder named -- prosecutor to investigate. Possible CIA abuses of terror detainees. What do you think about -- it."

" I think it's terrible. President Obama made the announcement some weeks ago this -- His administration would not go back and look at -- try to prosecute CIA person. And and effort now is based upon the inspector general's report that was sent to the Justice Department five years ago. It's completely reviewed by the Justice Department in years past they make decisions about. Whether or not there was any prosecutable offense there they found one did not involve CIA personnel involved contract person. That individual was sentenced in this is doing time management -- The -- expected to be dealt with by professionals now we've got a political point coming back. And supposedly without the approval of the president and go and do. Can good complete review or another complete investigation. Possible prosecution psychiatrist -- We talked a whole program about the negative consequences. Not the terrible precedent set to have and agents involved CI personally involved. In -- difficult program approved by the Justice Department approved by the National Security Council and the Bush Administration. And then when a new administration comes in and becomes political. They may find themselves dragged up before -- grand jury have to hire attorneys on their own because the Justice Department will provide them counsel it's it's terrible. Terrible --"

" There -- a lot of aspects that you just raised me to review some other. Why are you so concerned about the idea of wan administration. Reviewing investigating the actions of another one. Well if you think for example in the intelligence program. We asked those people and it's very typical sometimes there."

" But their own lives at risk they do so with the direction of the president they do so with the in this case we had specific legal authority from the Justice Department. And if they are now going to be subject to being investigated and prosecuted. By the next administration. Nobody's gonna sign up for those kinds -- missions it's it's yeah. Very very. Devastated -- fat -- on morale inside. The intelligence community. If they assume that they're gonna have to be. Dealing with the political consequence and it's clearly -- political -- no the rationale for why they're doing this. Then they'll be very reluctant to do this --"

" Political move not --"

" absolutely I think the fact is the Justice Department has already reviewed it can report five years ago. And now they're dragging it back up again and that and a holders gonna go back and review it again supposedly trying to find some evidence of wrongdoing. My CIA personnel. That. Ever set -- in to a brief view is never never going to be finally anymore. We can have somebody some future administration come along. Ten years from now fifteen years from now and go back and rehash. All of these. Decisions by an earlier administration."

" Let me follow up on that the attorney general says this is a preliminary review. Not a criminal investigation. It is just about CIA officers who went beyond their legal authorization. -- don't think it's gonna stop there."

" I don't believe -- We have the president the United States President Obama tell us a few months ago that wouldn't be any. Investigation like this it would not be -- look back at CIA personnel who were carrying out the policies of the prior administration. Now they get a little heat from the left wing of the Democratic Party. And the reversing course on that. And the president is the chief law enforcement officer in the administration. He's now saying -- anything he's -- and do. He's up on vacation Martha's Vineyard and his attorney general is going back and doing something that the president said some months ago they wouldn't do."

" But when you say it's not gonna stop there you don't believe it's gonna stop there do you think this will -- com. An investigation. Into the bush lawyers who authorized the activity into the top policy makers. Who were involved in the decision to happen enhanced interrogation program. Well I have no idea with a one out. But it shouldn't. The fact of the matter is the lawyers in the Justice Department who gave us those opinions had every right to give us the opinions -- did. Now you get a new administration this that we didn't like those opinions we're gonna go investigate. Those lawyers and perhaps that disbarred. I I just think it's an outrageous. Precedent set to have this kind of I think intensely partisan politicized and look back at the prior administration idea I guess the other thing that. Fans. Frankly Chris it is we -- a track record. Now eight years. Defending the nation against any further mass casualty attacks from a cut. The approach of the Obama administration should be he'd come to those people who were involved in policy -- to do it. What were the keys to keeping this country -- that prediction instead. They're out there are now threatening to despite the noise recently was solely the opinions threatening contrary to what Fresno regional said investigate. -- of the CIA personnel and -- out those investigations. I just I think it's an outrageous. Political act. That. -- Do great damage long term capacity to be able to. People take on difficult jobs make difficult decisions. Without having to worry about what the next administration and so if the prosecutor asked to speak to you. -- if they don't."

" It'll depend. On the circumstances. And do what I think there. And their activities are really involved and I've been very outspoken. In the my views on this matter I've been very forthright publicly talking about my involvement in these policies. I'm very proud of what we did in terms of defending the nation for the last eight years successfully. And -- won't take a prosecutor filed what I think authority express those let me."

" you think your problem with write what we did that this inspector general's report which was just released from 2004 details on specific interrogation. Mock executions. One of the detainees threatened with a handgun -- with an electric drill. --"

" I knew about the waterboarding. Not specifically and any one particular case but -- a general policy that we approve. The fact of the matter is that Justice Department reviewed all those allegations. Several years ago it looked at this question somebody had -- to drill. In -- interrogation session was never used on. The individual or that they brought in a weapon that -- used to individual. Judgment was made and that there wasn't anything that was improper. Or illegal. With respect that you got -- what they -- now that you've heard about it. Do you think what they did was wrong. Chris mind. Sort. Overwhelming view. Is that the enhanced interrogation techniques. More absolutely essential and saving thousands of Americans. In preventing. Further attacks against the United States and giving us the intelligence we needed to go find al-Qaeda to find the camps to find out how that we're being finance. The those interrogations. Were involved in the rest of nearly all of the al-Qaeda members that we were able to bring to justice I think they were directly. Responsible for the fact that for eight years we have no further mass -- it acts against the states it was good policy. It was properly carried out it worked very very well so even --"

" This is when they went beyond the specific legal authorization. You're okay with him. Up one specific question about holder. The Obama administration you put up a statement saying that you were upset that President Obama. Allow the attorney general to bring these cases -- top Obama officials says hey maybe in the bush White House. They -- the attorney general what to do but Eric -- independent decision."

" Well I think if you look at the constitution. President united State's. Chief law enforcement officers and the attorney general -- statutory officers a member of the cabinet. The president the one -- this responsibility for him to say gee I didn't -- you do with it especially after he set -- Oval Office and said this wouldn't happen. And holder decides he's gonna do it so now he -- often and it's claiming he's not responsible. I just I think he's trying to duck. The responsibility for what's going on here than them I think it's happening tomorrow."

" President Obama has also decided to move interrogations from the CIA. To the FBI that under the supervision of -- National Security Council. And the FBI we'll have to act within the boundaries of the army field manual. What do you think that does for the nation's security and will we now have the tools. If we -- another high --"

" I think to the them. Moved to set up. And this what's it called -- crew yes that's not even clear who's responsible the Justice Department is and they claim they aren't the guys responsible. The -- the united some kind of inner agency process. My which they're going to be responsible for a interrogating them high value detainees. -- if we had tried to do that. Welcome back in the aftermath of nine elevenths when we captured Khaled Sheikh Mohammed the mastermind of 9/11. We've got no place. I think if it moves very much in the direction. I'm going back to the old way of looking at these terrorist attacks these law enforcement problems that this isn't a strategic threat in the states I think hit some. Direct slap at CIA. I don't think it'll work I think that if they were face. With the kind of situation we were faced with in the aftermath of nine elevenths certainly capturing people may have knowledge about imminent attacks. And they're gonna have to have meetings to decide who gets -- what question who's memoranda as the witness. I just I think it's it's silly and makes no sense it's not doesn't appear to be serious move. In terms of been able to have to deal with the nation's here."

" On another -- the CIA has stopped the program to kill or capture top al-Qaeda. The leaders top al-Qaeda terrorists and CIA director and told lawmakers that you've told the CIA."

" Not to inform congress is that for -- as ever call and -- frankly since many years ago. But my recollection of it isn't reporting saying. He is -- the direction -- for them not tell congress until certain lines were passed until the program became operational. And that it was handled corporately and other directors. Of the CI. Including people like Mike Hayden -- was Leon Panetta's immediate predecessor. Has talked about it said that totally. -- shaky proposition was well handled that he was not directed not to deal with congress on this issue. -- it's not true."

" The CIA released to other documents this week Khalid Sheikh Mohammed. Preeminent source and al-Qaeda. Detainee reporting pivotal for the war against al-Qaeda. While they say that that that the overall program. Got absolutely crucial information. They do not conclude whether the enhanced. Interrogation. Programs. Work they just kind of agnostic on the issue and then there's what President Obama calls the."

" you could we have gotten that same information without resorting to these techniques. And it doesn't answer the broader question are we safer as a consequence of having used these tactics. Well these two reports. Versions of the ones -- asked for. Previously. There's actually one detainee reporting pivotal for the war against al-Qaeda is in the numbers -- that's more detailed -- please. But. An interesting thing about these is it shows. That college and Mohammed and Abu zubaydah provided the overwhelming majority of reports on -- That they were says pivotal in the war -- so. That both of them were -- cooperative approach. That. The application enhanced interrogation techniques specifically waterboarding especially. Case of Khaled Sheikh Mohammed. It's what really persuaded him he needed to cooperate. I think the evidence is overwhelming that the -- ninety's were crucial. And getting them to cooperate in the the information they provided did in fact say thousands of lives and let us defeat all further attacks against the United States and that -- time time in chris'. The fact we've gone for eight years with another attack now how -- explain. The critics. Don't have any solution for that they criticize our policies our way of doing business. But the results speak for themselves and as well as -- Efforts that we went to the Justice Department support to make certain what we were doing was legal was consistent with our international treaty obligations."

" At one point the vice president showed us the view of majestic mountains from his back yard. I asked about the Democrats running battle with the CIA. Including Nancy Pelosi is charged the agency one slide to our Republicans have made the charge before do you think the Democrats -- soft."

" national security."

" I do have always had the view that. In recent years anyway -- that. They didn't have that strong advocates on national defense and national security used. I -- I think that. Things have gotten so partisan that. Sort of pro defense. Hawkish wing of the democratic -- speed. Business comes with two months."

" Now that he's been an office for seven months what do you think of Barack Obama. Well I wasn't a -- here this morning. When he got elected and my views haven't changed idea. I have serious doubts about its policies. Serious doubts especially about. The extent to which he understands and is prepared to do it needs to be dead and -- Now he has. Stepped up the use of the predator drones against al-Qaeda he has continued rendition. There's something with his support that -- cure some -- and the that you simply. Predators drone and something we started very aggressively in the Bush Administration. -- the intelligence platform with weapons of something we started in August 2001. It's been enormously successful and they were successfully in -- and killing them but to suit. Which I echo mr. pluses but my concern is that damage will be done. By the president United States went back on his word his promise about investigations. Personnel carry out the policies. -- it is -- seriously -- undermined. The the -- if you -- our folks at the agents just today for. The courts and Pakistan and ruled that. AQ Khan father Pakistan nuclear weapon and who provided assistance to the Iranians the north Koreans the Libyans have been released from custody. It's very very important we find out no long term what he's up to he's. So far the worst with -- nuclear technology. In recent history. Now we've got agents and then people -- that the agency who ought to be on that case and worried about it but they're gonna have to spend time hiring lawyers. -- expects in order to defend themselves in Texas CIA has announced that they're gonna pay for them you know that'll -- being -- a new proposition always before. Who these criminal investigations the fact is that the employees themselves for what do you think of the debate over health care reform in -- raucous town halls. It's basically -- And what do you think of the health care reform issue I don't well it's important issues but I think the proposals the administration made. Don't desert past and in fact there's a lot of unrest after in the country -- expressed in these town hall meetings with them. Folks coming in and speaking now very loudly about their concerns indicates that there are major major problems but the administration's proposed."

" There was a story in the Washington Post a couple of weeks ago -- in the process. Of writing a memoir you have told colleagues about. Your frustration with President Bush especially in. His second you -- second term it's true -- That's where it was wrong. The report says that you disagreed with the president's decision to -- water -- he agreed with his decision to close the secret prisons -- Disagreed with his decision to reach out to Iran and North -- that --"

" Well we have policy differences no question about. But to say that I was disappointed. With the president and the way. -- fact the matter is he encouraged me to get in my view and whole range of issues I did sometimes agreed sometimes you can that was true from -- The very beginning of the administration. Did you feel that he went so often the second term. When I wouldn't say that. I think you've got to wait read my book at Chris for that if -- definitive view it sounds like you're gonna say something posted. No I'm I'm I'm not gonna speculate and I'm gonna read a book that. Lays out my view. What we did it'll also cover a lot of years before it went to work for George."

" We'll -- open up in the book a book about areas where you disagreed that your the president -- There's a question I've wanted to ask you for some period of time why didn't your administration. Take out the Iranian nuclear program. Given what a -- know you believe that was given the fact that you knew. That Barack Obama favored Natalie diplomatic engagement that actually sitting down with the Iranians. Why would you leave it to him to make this this was my decision today. -- have favorite military action. I was probably a bigger advocate of military action Catholics. Do you think that it was a mistake. While you were in power while you're administration was in power not to go after the the nuclear infrastructure. -- I can't say that. We don't know that's ultimately -- But you don't get time you don't get the choice to make it -- hindsight -- I in 20072008. Was the mistake not to take out."

" They're pro I think it was very important that the military option beyond. I thought that negotiations could possibly succeed. Unless the Iranians really believed we were prepared to use military force. And the date of course there's still proceeding with with their nuclear program in the -- not been resolved. We can speculate about what might have happened if we'd follow different course of action to say I was an advocate -- more robust policy. Then than -- in my collings. Quoting the president. President made the decision and obviously -- pursue the diplomatic. Diplomatic --"

" Do you think it was a mistake to let the opportunity when you guys were in power go knowing that he was beat Barack Obama and he was gonna take a much different. -- if I address that I'll address that my book Chris commit hell -- book it's going to be great. Wasn't a mistake for Bill Clinton with the blessing at the administration to go to North Korea to bring back those two reporters."

" Well it obviously. Concerned for the reporters. And other circumstances. But I think we look at it from a policy standpoint. -- big reward for bad behavior on the part North Korean leadership. A are testing nuclear weapons and then -- with readers. -- nuclear weapons technology built. He reactor in the Syrian desert. Very much like their own reactor for producing plutonium for nuclear weapons. They probably of the worst pool operators of nuclear technology any place in the world today. And there ought to be a price for that instead. I think one form present nine states goes. Meets with the leader and so forth that we're rewarding their bad behavior. And I think its stake."

" You wouldn't of them now. How concerned are you about the increase in violence in Iraq since we pulled out of the major population areas. And also what do you make of the fact that the top Shiite parties have formed an alliance tilting towards Iran. And leaving -- prime minister Maliki."

" Well I. I'm concerned about -- obviously. Strong supporter -- policies -- from the very beginning I think. We made major major efforts to take down Saddam Hussein's -- establish a viable democracy and the Middle East. I think especially going to the surge strategy and 070 wait. We keep -- significant -- and it's important that we not let that slip away. And we need to be concerned. I think in these. These states and begin the new administration would like to see them -- much on victory as they are focused on getting. And I hope that they don't. Rushed at the exit so fast enough that situation work all of those games that works so hard one. Lost."

" Given the increase in violence given some of these. New issues in terms of the political lay of the land given president Obama's plan to pull all combat troops out. By a year from the summer of 2010. How confident are you that. That Iraq as a stable moderate country. Is gonna make."

" I don't know I don't know that anybody -- I think it's very important that they have success from a political standpoint. I think the Maliki government's doing better than it was some bullets in the past. I hope that we see continued improvement in Iraqi armed forces security services but I think. Have a absolute deadline by which you can withdraw. That's totally and condition developments on the ground I think there's a danger there that you're gonna let the drive to get out. Overwhelm. The good cents a staying long enough to make certain symptoms but one obviously. This weekend the country -- focused. But the good. And I. Personally. In terms of policy. There's very little we agreed on. Liberal Democrat from Massachusetts I was conservative Republican from Wyoming. So there there wasn't much that we -- to work together. On the other hand I admired. The fact that he got into the arena as much as he did for most of his professional life and was obviously very active participant. How are you adjusting to life out of power. Well this is the fourth time I've done Chris it's it's not my first rodeos it's. I'm enjoying private life I just it's usually took -- him. Family -- Alaskan cruise -- little kids grandkids. We've got to spend a great deal of time and Wyoming which you tell here Jackson Hole was one of the world's -- garden spots so. I have I think adjusted with minimal. Conflicted. And difficulty have been pretty smooth what do in this. Oh way I'm a junkie I -- polish your assessment more than forty years in Washington. And enjoyed obviously people -- worked with. Wrestling with some of the problems at -- and to a good. Haven't seen 2 opponent doorstep morning six days a week with your latest intelligence shirt line. Because it was fascinating it was important stuff. It get to plugged in what was going on around the world. And as I say I'm I'm a junkie -- from a public policy standpoint. I went to Washington State twelve months and 41 years. I liked. I thought it was important. And I'll always be pleased to have the opportunity -- do you miss having your hands. On the levers of power. No and I don't think of it in those terms. But I mean being able to affect things he obviously feels strongly about these issues do you miss the fact that. Now you're just another guy who watching tape of the known as SA. For. Left government after. The first knicks intern went to private sector have to have to Ford administration. And for congress. Then left after the secretary of defense -- the private sector so these are. These are normal kinds of transitions. That you've got to make in this business and -- I've always found is that there are compensating factors that. To living a private life to having. More freedom and in time to do what I want. And of them spend more time of the family which is very important over the years. You know life I've sacrificed a lot in -- to do you do those things I've done in the public sector well you wanna thank you. For talking with -- and including in your private like putting up with an interview from. For the likes of the -- and choice you Chris thank you very much and told us about."