USA / FILE: U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney lambasts war critics and calls charges the administration misled Americans about Iraq invastion "reprehensible"

Record ID: 208779

  • Title: USA / FILE: U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney lambasts war critics and calls charges the administration misled Americans about Iraq invastion "reprehensible"
  • Date: 18th November 2005
  • Summary: CAPITOL BUILDING WITH STATUE OF FIGURE ON HORSEBACK IN THE FOREGROUND
  • Embargoed: 3rd December 2005 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: War / Fighting,Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVADIA99WG2BVNR3RSGW860S6ASB
  • Story Text: In the sharpest White House attack yet on critics of the Iraq war, Vice President Dick Cheney said on Wednesday (November 16, 2005) that accusations the Bush administration manipulated intelligence to justify the war were a "dishonest and reprehensible" political ploy. The comments were the latest salvo in an aggressive White House counterattack on war critics, launched as Democrats step up their criticism of the war and polls show declining public support for the conflict. Cheney said the suggestion Bush or any member of the administration misled Americans before the war "is one of the most dishonest and reprehensible charges ever aired in this city." Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid of Nevada responded that "The administration's iraq policy is adrift and rudderless all they're offering is a bumper sticker slogan, stay the course" Showing mounting discontent among Republicans over the Iraq war, the U.S. Senate resolved on Tuesday (November 15, 2005) that Iraqis should start taking the lead in their own security next year to allow a phased withdrawal of U.S. troops. The Senate's 79 to 19 vote came days after Bush, facing waning support for the war and the lowest job approval ratings of his presidency, launched an aggressive counteroffensive against Democratic critics who say he misled the country by hyping prewar intelligence on Iraq to justify the 2003 invasion. The Senate demand, and with it the stirrings of Republican revolt, was another blow to Bush, who is reeling over a string of setbacks including his administration's response to Hurricane Katrina, controversy over Supreme Court nominees and high gas prices. President Bush is in South Korea where he met with his counterpart Roh Moo-Hyun ahead of the APEC (Asian Pacific Economic Cooperation) summit.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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