Mr. President, take all the time you need on Afghanistan

Roland; you have ruined any chance of becoming a close friend of Dick "Quick Draw" Cheney. Oh, well.....

Mr. Martin,

It appears to me that you don't understand where VP Cheney is "coming from" and, as a result, his statements appear "clueless," "dumb," or worse ("always pushing war").

For your consideration, I understand Mr. Cheney's remarks to be the direct result of his world view. More specifically, Mr. Cheney "take" on world history is that only the strong survive.

Similarly, I think he would note that there are a lot of hungry people on the planet and the reality for him is that (as you quoted) "indecision" in demonstrating strength will "hurt our allies and embolden our adversaries."

You can disagree with his world view and his current assessment. However, that is essentially a "pre-analytic" disagreement.

However, if you grant Mr. Cheney the right to base his recommendations on conclusions that follow logically from such premises, he is not "clueless" or "dumb" anymore than someone who adopts an entirely different set of premises and comes to a different set of conclusions.

I believe the key is to try to understand Mr. Cheney's points–and reject them if they are flawed–rather than condemn him for lack of intellectual integrity.

Cheney helped ruin this country's economy by getting us into an unneccessary war in Iraq and leaving us with a huge war debt. He has a miserable track record on Iraq and Afghanistan war policy. The only "mission accomplished" by his administration was to build worldwide resentment for American involvement abroad. He is the LAST person we should be listening to for advise.

This commentator is so inappropriate and uninformed. He should be an embarrasment to your newscast.

Mr. Martin,

Thanks for keeping it real. Mr. Cheney had his rough 8 years of clue less about the world. Even African countries managed to block the American war machinery that moved so fast to Iraq, yet he is sitting here telling the guys who are cleaning up the messy he created and so far he has done so much compare to his 8 years. I think personally he is jealous of President Obama, who he once said that Obama won’t be welcomed in the big boys club. There we go, they proved him wrong he got Nobel Peace. So it is obvious that he personal hatred toward Obama will raise as he does things contrary to the way he wish things could have been done. Politics is about public serving and reaching Conesus with people and for people, it is not about my way or high way/cowboy diplomacy. It did not work for 8 years so give Obama a chance since he is delivering and clean up. He haven’t even been there for one year for God sake. People are throwing so many lies and misleading things on Obama to the point that even people disagree with him, now are defending him. Socialist?? Really, what about Bus bails out? Job killer? Really? What about Bush era of outsourcing/Enron and tax to the wealthiest? We got to be fair, and Mr. Cheney is not the one to call shorts. He should see what his former Boss is doing even though he disagrees with Obama than anyone out there.

Sir, Is Cheney contemplating a 2012 run for Prez? He is the lying scum who sent our sisters, brothers, and other family members to war to deflect the Enron treason. That should be a charge of treason. If we put some power/teeth behind the crimes of economic mayhem caused by these white-collar offenses, we might put a stop to more of them. In the Philippines there are laws to deal harshly with economic treason. If we took a page from China and lined up some bankers and financiers on Wall St. and shot, or hung, them, well, we might make see less S & L betrayals, Enrons, AIG's, mortgage firms, and other robbers taking such devastating actions of greed. Thank you for chanting "cut their bonuses" – just a paraphrase. all the best, Chamae

You say for the president to take all the time he wants in making his decision about the troops. You are another person who is not concerned about how many of our troops get kiiled. The longer he waits, the more of our troops get killed. One big reason for the increase in troops is to prevent the current troops from getting killed because there isn't enough there to win. The top general should get what he wants, but the president and his cronies, have no idea of what to do! It is a very simple concept. When you have troops in harms way and the top general requests more troops to help prevent deaths, you send the troops. You don't dilly/dally, you send the troops. After the general has the requested troops, you can talk, think, plan, what ever you want to do, but first thing and I do mean the first thing you do, is send the troops. You people, who have never been on the balltel field think you know better than the top general. That's why we lost in Viet Nam, but you haven't learned anything from that. You weren't there either. Now you are not on the battlefiled and you think you know more than the top general.
We have a poor excuse for a president and a commander in chief. He doesn't know how to do the job, so he is playing with it, while our troops are in harms way. it is a sad time for America!

Cheney, Bush Ashroft & Rumsfeld are the ones responsible for our mess in the Middle East. At the very beginning the generals in charge were insisting it would take more troops to enter into this war. It was Rumsfeld who insisted we had suufcient forces to do the job. No one, incuding Cheney, stated otherwise and now we are in a mess with Cheney saying we need more troops. He had the authority to get those additional troops and he did not. He is a hipocrit and I;m certain that history will look at his efforts as nothinbg more than another failure of the Bush administration. This war has caused the death of more Americans than did the attack on the twin towers. Nice job Dick.

Dick Cheney is writing his memoirs. The book will be found in the "fiction" section of local book stores.

WL Ackley: Exactly what in the above is inappropriate or uninformed? I agree with everything this man says. Hitting the ground running with no plan whatsoever? We went into Afghanistan to fight Al-Queda they are now in Pakistan, the government of Afghanistan is so weak that we might as well make Afghanistan the 51 state. If the Bush/Cheney plan was so great then why is it the Taliban are back in control of nearly 95% of the country? Your comments are suspicious espeacially since you are unable to give any reasonable response to the article, before you make such statemenst maybe you can tell us why you believe that?

Going after Al Quida in the place that protected them, was the right and necessary thing to do. But we haven't got them yet, and if we don't they will be back again to simply kill as many more of us as they can.

We ignored the Taliban "government" of Afghanistan other than to flick them out of our way because they insisted on getting in our way; but otherwise, and frankly, what Afghans make of their government is their own business. They allowed the Taliban to take over before, and might again. Their current government is reputed to be a model of corruption, and is almost presumed to win the upcoming 2nd round of voting. What are we doing here now, nation-building?

Nation-building was not the task, getting Al Quida was and still is. The President cannot make a decision that is contingent on the politics and policies of the Afghan people, instead of on our own. I understand it would be nice to build a nation where Al Quida cannot take root again, but that might not be possibe anyway no matter how much we build-for starts Al Quida has a dozen-odd other nations they might be able to operate from. So for OUR purposes, digging Al Quida out of Afghanistan and then getting out of there ourselves would be the clearest demonstration of our truly righteous intentions, as well as the only way to re-group and un-encumber our military for the next threat.

I agree with Mr. Martin and Mr. Cheney will never and I mean never admit to his past mistakes in advising President Bush[s]. I recall Pope John asking the US not to invade Iraq and he explained his positions. Cheney will run roughshod over anyone that opposes him. I had brothers who served in the Second World War[Canadian Army] and were in Normandy. They both said that War is the worst of all the solutions.

If we had had a little more thought on the last two wars, I might be able to answer "What was the goal? How do we know we succeeded?" I initially thought we went to Afghanistan to get Bin Ladin and to get rid of training camps. Why we went to Iraq I have never found out. There are lots of other horrid dictators we didn't plan to take out, so that couldn't have been it. One difference between this administration and the last one is THOUGHT. I have sons and daughters. Please give some thought before you throw them into harm's way. I don't need a show of force like "Bring Em On! " I need thought.
Also will someone please look into the history of Afghanistan? Read Gertrude Bell, Queen of The Desert. This historical account will describe the tribal nature of the region, and how there were flawed political solutions after WW1. We will never succeed in nation-building there without understanding the nature of their society. And I thought we were out of nation-building...

I'd like to know why Cheney, the war criminal, isn't in jail by now...along with his other war criminal friends, such as G.W. Bush.

PROSECUTE NOW!

Charles, I think most of us recognize that Cheney's world view is "only the strong survive" but regardless of whether we agree with his view, or his definitions of strength, we should be able to recognize deeply flawed logic when we see it. Taking time to determine the most effective course of action is rarely a bad move, regardless of what your goals are. Not taking the time to analyze the various policy options available is part of the reason the Bush/Cheney administration was such an historic failure. Some of their apologists can try to deny they were a failure, but when the two biggest intelligence failures in US history (the failure to prevent the 9/11 attacks and the abscence of WMD's that were the main reason for the war in Iraq) and the number of deaths attributed to terrorism worldwide skyrocketed, and America's image plummetted everywhere across the globe, and the largest economic collapse in history since the Great Depression ALL happened on your watch, we have to be able to recognize that Bush/Cheney was a terrible failure and that to say otherwise is wildy illogical. It doesn't matter what Cheney's world view is here, because he is wrong by his own standards. America was clearly not stronger under their watch, and poor decision making and a lack of intellectual curiosity was a big part of the problem.

Deferral Dick has a lot of nerve since his flawed and careless (lack of) planning got us into this mess to begin with.

I would like to suggest that he and his neocon friends line up their sons, daughters and grandchildren and march them off to Afghanistan if they are so concerned with the lack of troops there. Maybe a few of them would even like to join them. But I'm guessing that would send Dick looking for his 6th deferral.

Go away Dick. Nobody cares what you think.

I agree Roland! CHENEY needs to keep his big mouth shut! all of a sudden he has opinions! where was he for 8 yrs??? This president likes to think it through before starting wars..not like you Cheney ,who jumps at any chance to go to war! u don't care, STOP acting now like you care about us American people!! stay home & grow old!!

Cheney is the reason we are faced with these problems. Him and his buddy George W.

charles, lets review:attacked on his watch,had world in palm of hands after 911 but chose to use that power for evil,attacked a country for no reason which has left us in financal downturn, lost track of the people did attack us, took away citizens rights, tortured and held people with little chance of release or a fair trial,has most of our allies against not for us,ect. but if rove and cheneys master plan would have worked the u.s. would have repub. for years.to bad dick was wrong about weapons and being ushered into iraq with flowers and palms,and when iraq turned into flourishing democracy he would be a hero. he was wrong then and he still is wrong.

Could someone come up with a remote area to be bombed? Mr Chaney isn't happy unless the bombs are falling on something. Remember, we have to keep Haliburtons stock up.

All of us would be better off if we ignored Dick Cheney. Too bad W. didn't ignore him for 8 years

AMEN!!!!

In 2002 the majority of Americans agreed with U.S. actions in Afghanistan. In 2002 the majority of Congress agreed, and they had more info than the American people. And then we felt safe. We felt we were gaining retribution against our enemies, and that good feeling helped our economy rebound tremendously for more than 60 months of booming new construction, jobs, and wealth.

And then the Democrats started up their big campaigns in late 2005 for 2006. Katrina was bad, and those in Congress along with their media allies began to tell everybody how bad Bush was for EVERYTHING! We heard BAD NEWS everywhere, during a spectacular period of prosperity, just to set the American people up for the CHANGE the Democrats thought we needed. Congress took control in 2006, and everything went downhill from there!

Now we don't feel safe, and businesses don't have the confidence in Congress, so they are not creating jobs. Cheney had nothing to do with that, and Democrats are beginning to hide their heads in the sand for the mess their Democrat leaders in Congress created. Pelosi, Obama, and Reid will all be voted out someday soon as failed legislators. They didn't accomplish anything but false hope.

Cheney says Obama is "afraid" of Afghanistan? GOOD!
Anyone who is NOT afraid of war and death is a FOOL!

Bravo Mr. Martin -RIGHT ON! The sad part is that there are still some people in our country who think Cheney is actually is right!

Cheney ignored everyone but Bush for 8 years. Now he wants to continue to be heard. Dear Dick...go away, go away....

Why take the puppetmaster so seriously?

The commentor apparently didn't take world history or economics in school much like Obama who he obviously admires. If a Chicago thug like Obama, whose "big" jobs were a lobbyist and voting "present" most of the time in the Illinos & US Senate knows how to make a decision, less let him do it. More & more Americans are falling "out of love" with him every day. When he kills a few hundred more Americans be his actions the American people will send him back to Chicago to be a "button" man for the Daley's. Will the American people get to see the "critical analysis" that the commentor is so sure Obama is doing? Most of the world is understanding that Obama is a joke.

I couldn't agree with your assesment more. Dick Cheney did enough damage to this country when he was in office. It amazes me how he still thinks his opinion has any value. Dick....go away, enjoy your pension.

Absolutely right. Don't need to say anymore

President Obama should take as much time as he needs to make his decision. Cheney and Bush are the ones that put us in this terrible mess. I guess they still do not get it....The people have spoken – they wanted change –

I agree with Jean – Cheney is the last person we should be listeting to for any advise.....

Mr. Martin:

THANK YOU!! The shrill yells to put down Mr. Obama because he will not fall into line behind the Bush-Cheney disaster are distressing! I wonder how many of these individuals calling for more into the war zone are equal to our 'deferment disaster VP'. I was a medic in Viet Nam – nobody wants to go and to this. By the way, both my son-in-law (4 times) and oldest son (2 times) have gone to do this.

Roland, you rock!!

Roland, you have shamed our "GREAT VEEP". I guess you will not be getting a christmas card from him this Christmas, however, if he invites you to go hunting with him, I strongly suggest you decline the offer. I do not think you are at the top of his Friends List right now.

I think Cheney is trying to bait the President. Look at the bait done by Fox, and what happened to their ratings????. Cheney is a wanna be President, who just can't keep quiet. He's second guessing, making assumptions, and being his usual nasty self. And I am a Republican who will NEVER vote Republican again unless they learn the art of bi-partismship and good manners. What is wrong with Cheney? He's out!, so what's his problem????

Cheney is rearing his ugly head more now than when he hid out in a bunker during his vice presidency. He is trying to justify the mess he got this country in.

i am not a roland Martin fan. Actually, won't even watch him. But someone spoke of Cheney's integrity, -he has NONE!!

If Cheney is so smart,why is it that he somewhat pushed Pres.Bush into Iraq to get Sadam for the contract on Sr. Bush (it was personal,not business) .As a result,he didn"t care about any side effects such as the Economy & showing that he is above the law on everything he does & says as he so blantantly showed everybody.

Thank you Mr. Martin!

I'm still riled up after hearing Cheney's comments two days after he made them. The way Cheney questioned Obama's courage and insulted his intelligence and resolve – well, that was low even by the previous administration's standards.

Cheney's speech was so full of misrepresentations and outright lies that it's difficult to choose which of his statements to tackle first! But I'll choose this one:

"It’s worth recalling that we were engaged in Afghanistan in the 1980’s, supporting the Mujahadeen against the Soviets. That was a successful policy"

Successful? Really? When those same Mujahadeen that WE armed and helped radicalize ended up attacking us on 9/11? This is not a man Obama should be taking any advice from.

Cheney is trying to save face. The last eight years were one of the worst administration this country has had to endur. I wish someone would look into how much money he made from the war they started. Unnecessary wars are about money........

I just don't get it. There are plenty of competent conservative leaders. Why neo-cons choose to still back Cheney, Rush, or any of the other wing nuts with knee-jerk assertiveness is beyond me. Until they can admit the blunders of the last administration, the administration that failed THEM and cost THEM the '08 elections, the left and middle will never listen to them. So keep on pretending that Bush/Cheney was anything other than one of the worst administrations in history, and your party and any good ideas you may have will fade into obscurity. You want respect? ADMIT YOUR MISTAKES! PERIOD!

It is truly amazing to me how Cheney who lives in a glass has the audacity to trow rocks. We have been in Afghanistan for eight years. It was call by troops and general the forgotten war. It was ill planned and and as in the 1980's devised with no end game.
Mr Cheney and his neo-con supports should do the wise thing on this issue sit down and shut-up. The appropriate action is to make sure that you have a game plan that is complete and well planned. We are dealing with peoples lives. It is the Presidents job to do what is best for this country and those that defend it. If he decides to increase troop levels in the region it will because he has as plan that is the best interest of the objective. The previous administration went into Afghanistan with out a full plan deserted it and left it for the next guy to clean up.
Well Mr. Cheney this is you mess that you were afraid to clean up. That you and your boss decided not listen to you your generals on the ground. The blood of those young men and women that you sent over there and did not have a plan is on your hands. And while you try to wash yourself of this fact and care not for the sons and daughter that you would send over there without looking at the complete picture, you dare judge and cast despersions on the people that are left to clean up your mess. Mr Cheney you are a true coward. An evil Man that that cares only for his place in history rather than the people that are the future. You Sir are afraid of become what you are IRRELEVANT . The American people in 2006 and then again 2008 made it know to you.
So as you sit in your glass house throwing stones at others here is a boulder to throw through your window. History will remember you and you sir will not be remember in any good light, you set the people of this nation back with your old ideas. your time has pass go into to the abyss in silence.

Perhaps we should put you on the ground with our troops in Afghanistan! I am sure they would resent your opinion that the administration should "take all the time you need." If your son or daughter were there right now you would think differently. Shame on you for your selfish, one-sided, narrow opinion!

Has it occured to anyone that our President wants to see how the elections in Afghanistan turn out before making a firm decision? I would think he wants to see how the new/repeat president feels about our troops remaining there before either making a longer term commitment or withdrawing. This would be a major deciding factor, since our troops are there to HELP, not simply to do the job for the people of Afghanistan.

Everyone should ignore dark cheney! He's wrong now, he was wrong for the last 8 horrible years and he will remain wrong for the rest of his miserable life!

MR. Martin, you have another thoughtful column here. It has been so interesting to see Dick Cheney who we hardly saw while he was in office, now appear with an opinion on everything. The Bush administration started to go to war against Al Qaeda in Afghanistan, which was logical, but then pretty much diverted the whole war to Iraq. We should never have been in Iraq and now we are paying for it. We totally missed the objective in Afghanistan and now I don't know if we can ever be successful. Bush and Cheney turned Afghanistan and iraq into a no-win situation, very similar to Viet Nam. The present administration is trying to work through the possibilities and find the best possible solution vs. the knee jerk reactions of the previous administration.

What everyone fails to understand that war is Republican birth control.

Let all those babies grow up so they can be slaughtered in unnecessary wars.

That'll teach ya! All you lower class people who volunteer for the military stop making babies!

How did that surge in Iraq, that your two clueless heroes Obama and Biden voted against, work out Roland? While mistakes were made, Obama was handed an Iraq that was increasing in stability, a plan for troop withdrawl, and a political friend in the Middle East. Obama was also left with an Afghanistan strategy fom Bush and Cheney that he endorsed in March, but then backed away from when it came time to make the tough decision of sending more troops. Martin is nothing more than a liberal racist who continues to spew his hatred toward Cheney, Bush, and basically any conservative who disagrees with his radical far left views.

I agree completely. Cheney needs to shut up. He had his time in office – we see how that turned out. Obviously a different, more thought-out approach is needed.

And Liz Cheney can stick a sock in it too.

Roland:

Obama has had the Afghanistan reivew left to him by the last administration – which he, Obama asked the Bush admin to keep quiet – which they did. Now he sits on it, and in the words of Helen Thomas – who has been copvering Presidents since before you were born – Obama has no courage. Maybe he should go and find the Wizard of Oz.........as the answer to Yes we can is obviously – No we can't.

Darth Cheney's world view is somewhat scary, it is easy to send other parents children into harms way when it does not impact your family or friends. I would rather think before I did something then to make a decision based on my political/world agenda. that is what got us into this mess, our allies seem to be more supportive of Obama then they were of the previous "regime" that made so many bad decisions. How scary it is to think that when one looks at options it is interpreted as "afraid". Since when is thinking before you act a weakness????

@ WL Ackley and Charles Pace.

I am amused by your comments, obviously you have a short memory, before the invasion of Iraq, the generals asked for a total force of more than 350 thousand troops to go into Iraq, Mr. Cheney and Rumsfeld were the ones that complete ignore the generals, The president at the same time did not have the remotes idea at how the Iraqi society was divided, and now we have the results to dealt with.
Dear gentlemans please read, an try to understand the world is not the way you see it.. It is much more complicated, you probably get your information from Ann Coulter, Limbaugh, and or Hannity, a very narrow view of the world.
To say the commentator is uninformed is laughable.
And to you Mr. Pace.. pleasseee!! The world view of Mr. Chaney is egocentric and also egotistical.. Mr. Chaney doesn’t have a clue.. please let him know the cold war was over a long time ago..
And we are not going to mention the thousands dead Americans, the thousands of cripple, disable, mentally hurt, Americans, not to mention all the innocent lost lives in Iraq. And to top it the billions and billions spent on a war of choice (did you say anything about the deficit?)

Have a great day..

Nero fiddles while our troops die.

Right on, Roland! I enjoy your commentary. At least you acknowledge it is commentary, unlike some other so called "journalists" who pretend to be reporting.
I am wondering how many "neoconservatives" are still out there, since the Republican Party seems to be slowly deteriorating.

how can anyone take what cheney say as serious ? look at the mess him and bush left with the wars. i am glad we have a president who takes time to get a plan instead of feeding the ego. maybe if cheney would have listened before jumping the gun with iraq he would have more credit. iraq did not attack us on 9-11, so why did we go there ?
we went there because bush wanted to get back at iraq due to the way his daddy was treated, it had nothing to do with 9-11. how can 2 oil men who kept trying to fill the pockets by using our troops w/o any plan. i am glad obama is thinking with his head and not thinking OIL. like cheney. cheney and his daughter need to take a chill pill and get their party in line. they should wake up, PEOPLE showed bush/cheney what they thought about them at ELECTION time(open your eyes dick). your words are for the few republicans, what is it 21% now(ha ha) and you should go somewhere and sit down and take your daughter with you, she doesn't make any sense just like you don't. you don't have control go sit down and read a book about how to do the right thing. We are in a time now, where we don't just jump, we think first. i don't see you or any of your kids fighting a war. If you feel that we should jump, send yourself and kids to war and fight for the USA !!

To say that Mr. Obama has a number of things he doesn't know is an embarrasment for our President. Where has he been for the past nine months as regards this issue? I'm amazed!!! I think he is "dithering", playing politics with the wellbeing of our brave, unselfish, and loyal troops in Afghanistan. It is disgusting. It is Vietnam all over again–a repeat of President Johnson's huge problems is in the offing. Mr. President - make a decision soon, and not continue embarrasing this country in front of the rest of the world. And for heaven's sake, do not blame the Bush administration for this. That is getting real old!!

I couldn't agree more with the commentary. Indeed, the best would be to ignore Cheney. I don't think that anybody beside some hardcore Reps will take him serious anyway.

EVERYBODY should ignore Cheney. He's a has-been with ideas and theories proven wrong over and over, continually harping from a base of bad secret intelligence reports and discredited right-wing bias. All he's up to right now is poisoning wells to feel better about his own failures.

well, chenney and bush sorely mismanaged Irage and desperatly neglected afghanistan. the few here who post criticism against roland apparently blindly supported cheney and bush during their reign and refuse to see the results of their disasterous management of these military conflicts those past eight years.heck whatever cheney says just dont listen to his nonesense Mr Obama.

If your local police force were in a gun fight with criminals and called the station asking for backup – would your police chief say – let me think about it and I'll get back to you in a few weeks, just do the best you can....
Obama campaigned for 2 years that he knew exactly what to do and yet, 2 years and 10 months later, he now needs a month or so to make up his mind. The democrats elected a Coward in Chief – not a Commander in Chief. And to think, we thought the terrorists were dangerous, but Obama puts them to shame. God save us from this idiot. Based on his actions, as opposed to his daily rhetoric, he'll probably tell our troops to tie one arm behind their back to make us look better to the enemy when he surrenders and apologizes on behalf of his democrats.

I agree. Cheny is irrelevant. Cheny has no political future. My question to CNN and the media in general is: why are you wasting our time and yours by giving him coverage?

Ignore Dick Chaney! War munger, torturer; Chaney and Bush did more to encourage terrosim tham they did to prevent it.

President Obama is doing the right thing, take it slow and easy and figure out the most peaceful and diplomatic solution.

James In Atlanta

That makes the most sense Roland!! Finally an honest down to earth opinion of the matter! Although I still believe we should have never gone over there in the first place! Had we just waited and acted a lot less interested I'm sure we would have had a chance to pop Bin Laden when he least expected it and at a much lower cost in American and Afganistan lives and taxpayers money !!
Although given Dicks 'eagle eye' when he goes bird hunting, I think it was a good thing for our troops that he never made it into the military!!
Hummmmm wonder how many head shoots he would have had in Vietnam??

I am surprised that this war monger is still speaking and there are "some" people still listening. He should stay in long dark night of Wyoming and never come out. Cheney and his gang has done damage that will impact generations in this country and ROW.

I think Roland is a big idiot! If he or all you dumb idiots knew half as much as Dick Cheney I wonder what all you geniouses would do. You hear all the talking heads and go from there. Try to look up some truth sometime. Whine,whine,whine that's all you do. Act like you have a brain! Oh! you don't! I bet Roland would like to be half as smart as the former VP!!!!!!

Listening to Cheney is like getting cancer advice from a movie star. His previously flawed, poorly prepared decision making indicates he has little credibility. I am a little tired of the neocons waving the flag and questioning one's patriotism and our commitment to our soldiers whenever we take the time to thoroughly evaluate the pros and cons of our actions and try to develop a long term plan, including an exit strategy. Just because we wasted trillions of dollars and hundreds of thousands of lives does not mean we fight a war indefinitely. How many more lives and dollars are we willing to loose to force democracy down the throat of the Afghans? And if Afghanistan is so important for world security, where is the rest of the world?

Why don't Mr. Cheney go hunting and shoot himself. He is only hurting the country with the remarks he makes. He sure didn't do any good the time that he and Mr. Bush were in office. He sound ignorant.

Why is CNN still reporting on anything Cheney utters? We all know who he is and what he done. If we ignore his rants, maybe he will go away and play with his heart machines.

He makes the real "tricky dick" Nixon look like a great Prez and VP.

Watching him wheez and grasp for breath on tv is pathetic. He is a bitter old man trying desperately to get the country to accept him.

That will never happen – not even by that 20% who call themselves republicans.. He only has Mary Matalin in his corner now.

Amen to Roland's comments. Cheney has no earthly about being a leader and certainly does not know beans about the Military as he decided long ago he wasn't gonna put his butt in harm's way but all is okay to put our sons and daughters there. He's a complete DUD and always will be.

Roland,

I am a conservative but am smart enough not to listen to Cheney, Obama and...YOU.

The question that should be asked is, "What will a US 'win' look like"? If we can't define what a 'win' is then what are we doing? I hope that VP Cheney can define a win as he criticizes Pres. Obama, and I certainly hope that President Obama can define a win before he commits more troops.

Oh my. Taking advice from an idiot in office was bad enough, but if anyone takes advice from Mr. Cheney after we finally got him out of office would be disastrous. What a toad. He's done enough damage to the country. Doesn't anyone anywhere have a muzzle for this guy?

The reason the President- and his press people- should ignore Cheney is not so much because of what he has to say as because they have no reason to engage with every pundit who has something to say- and Cheney is now just another pundit, even though he obviously has more experience with these things than the average talking head.

The White House seems to have a strategy which expends time and energy responding strongly to almost everything any pundit says which manages to hit the news networks. During a campaign, it makes sense to give strong responses whenever your critics are in the news. But with the President in office, the stream of angry responses which flows from the mouth of Robert Gibbs and the administration's focus on hitting back kind of demean the presidency and make it look like Obama's policies must all be a hard sell.

The White House should instead remain somewhat above the fray. Responding to every adverse comment will only inflame the criticism.

Bidens response to Cheney's latest bit of nonsense was right on the mark "so what " . The past administration is irrelevant. They have mired our country in the mud of Afghanistan and Iraq, they have spent billions and accomplished nothing. And more Americans have died there than in the WTC attack.
The idea that their efforts have prevented another attack is ludicrous . The first attack on the World Trade Center took place in '93. 8 years passed before the second attack in 2001, which might have been prevented if the sorry excuses for president and vice president had been alert to the intelligence under their noses.

Yes, Dick Cheney is writing a book and it will come with its own set of crayons.

Mr Martin is using his intense adoration of President Obama to make unwise suggestions. President Obama is having a rude awakening. He actually has to make a tough decision for the first time in his life. Too bad it involves the security and preservation of this great country. The trouble with Mr Martin and his ilk is they only see an African American as president. Thus the president can do absolutely no wrong. The president is obviously uncomfortable in his role and really is afraid he may make another mistake.

Mr. Martin is right. After 8 years of the Bush agenda Cheney needs to shut the hell up! And by the way how did Bush keep us safe? Wasn't Bush in office 9 MONTHS prior to 9 /11. So to all you Bush/Cheney lovers and Obama haters answer that one!

Obama should ignore Cheney, as should the rest of America. Haven't we paid enough for his style of "protecting us?" The best way to get a nuisance such as Cheney to go away is to pay as little attention to him as possible. Obama should also ignore Fox News. What a waste of time to give any credence to advice from any of the people whose actions have been such a failure, both nationally and economically. When all is said and done, all any of the pundits do is confuse the issues. In general, we know what they are going to say before they say it. Also, wouln't it be a breath of fresh air if all news channels would simply report the news and not try to get whomever they interview to say what the journalist wants them to say.

Obama is the one who cares, that's why he is pondering the whole mess before sending anymore troops over there. Did the evil fatherless idiot cheney/bush give the same consideration before invading an innocent country/?
Why aren't they being prosecuted for first degree murder? and corruption, stealing, treason?

Cheney is a TOTAL embarrasment to America. If he had of said something positive about Obama the media wouldnt have covered it. The media plays to these kooks. Cheney and his partner in crime Bush brought this economy and our position in the world to its knees. And the worst of all is all the soldiers killed and wounded in that un-necessary war in Iraq. Let him take that to his grave with him.

Go Obama!!!!

May I ask who is Cheney to put words into Obama's mouth to send more troops? He cannot ask Obama Government to continue his deceit of Americans. Cheney was the Think Tank of the bluff Iraq war, he is a war criminal with other cronies of Bush administration, and they should be all behind bars for war crime which killed over 1.3 millions civilians. The Pentagon is lying about injured troops in Iraq...the figure is well over 130,000 because a total of 1.5 million troops have gone in and out of Iraq. Bush administration was the dumb and worst Government US ever had. To elect a 2.3 GPA as Prez was very stupid of us. If we ask Cheney how much rich he became from war, he won't answer same with Bush and all his cronies cronies because there is 50 billion dollars missing off war funds. These unwise war hogs of Bush Administration have not only put us in financial crises but the world.

Cheney is right. It seems to me that Obama is not a decisive man, rather good at talking than making a real tough decision. General McChrystal is the guy that he picked to make a recommendation. Now he trashes the idea because he does not have the gut to do what the general suggested. Will he do the same diddle if McChrystal suggested to withdraw the troop from Afghanistan. I bet he would jump at it without second thought.

Cheney is just a miserable excuse of a human being ("human being" used loosely).

You are really into name calling young man. Very nasty indeed. My beef with Obama is that this war isn't something that sprang up yesterday. He has known about it, and indeed opined about it, for a long time. So, what is taking him so long to make up his mind? I mean is there lobbiest bidding war going on that we don't know about and that will swing him one way or another??

Asking the Generals "how many troops are appropriate?", is akin to asking the Diamond Council how much money you should spend on an engagement ring. The Generals are in the war business. They will NEVER have enough troops to suit their tastes. This is in no way meant to demean their effort, but i'm sure that if they had it their way, military service would be mandatory and the budget would be limitless. They are, in fact, lobbyists for their profession. Fair enough, those who think they should have the final say are wrong. It is their job to FIGHT the wars, not make policy.

good for Cheney..... It is so obvious that he IS the only one aware of world events and is correct in the danger presented to our troops. Rham and this goofball president are after other things right now. More of your money and more control in general of the country. Our country.

President Obama should take as much time as he needs to make his decision,and get it right.

The question being, Should President Obama ignore Cheney NO!!!
After he makes his decision he should not ignore but turn his attention to urging Congress to consider to investigate Bush-Cheney for war crimes.

While it is news that Dick Cheney hates Obama judging from utterances before the election, He refused to stand up to recognize Obama on the inuaguration. He came out in wheel chair in pretence, " I am not gonna stand up for this guy". The truth is that Obama's victory was no good news for Dick Cheney. Because he saw him as a threat his to his numerous Defense Contracts in Iraq. All his quest for war in Iraq are all financially motivated and not out of love for the country. It was all about Halliburton !

At least now we know who was the real devil in the Bush era that took us to war that should not have been. All fingers were pointing at Bush Bush because he was President. But the real devil was Cheney the oil merchant.

Dick Cheney is no longer VP but he is right. Obama is proving as President he is unable to make a critical decision when our young men and woman are in harms way. Mr. President you can't vote present here. Make a decision you have had months.

Yes, Dick Cheney is reknowned for listening to his "commander on the ground" when it comes to war planning. That whole administration ignored the pleas of seemingly every general involved in the lead-up to BOTH wars (as meticulously documented in the critically acclaimed book, Cobra II), who if they had been listened to in the first place, we probably wouldn't even still be fighting these wars in the first place! Mr. Martin I'm not normally a fan of name-calling in political debate, but if there ever was a time to call somebody a jerk, this was it.

I trust that the President reads more history than Mr. Cheney does. Afghanistan has never been conquered, didn't the Russian experience teach anyone anything?? The economic geography and the feudal warlord reality kinda precludes nation building.
Where is the leadership from the Middle East? Where are the religious and secular leaders of the Muslim nations in their condemnation of extremism? The silence is bleakly apparent. Why are we throwing away lives and precious resources on a task they won't tackle? I'm a woman, so I really don't like the taliban, but its not worth the life of one American if the people of the region won't rise up and clean their own backyard.

Roland, you hit the nail on the head. Former Vice President Cheney wants his approach to be validated (and blindly at that). His rushing troops into an area just put those pesky evildoers to ground, only to come out when our troops were reassigned into another area as "a show of strength". "Working Smarter" is obviously NOT in Dick Cheney's lexicon.

We all should just ignore Obama. After all, the rest of the world does.

Dick Cheney seems to be continuing with this dangerous advice so that he could, once again, make fortune for himself and his cronies at Halliburton and similar companies who tend to gain from wars. Do not fall into his prey as he has always shown his selfishness at the cost of the country and its citizens.

Obama is so clearly in another class than Cheney. Were I'm sitting people love this president. He smart! Go ahead and think about Afghanistan, that's what humans are supposed to do when confronted with a difficult choice-DUH? Cheney and Bush nearly brought this country down. Thank god for President Obama!!!

The thing that irks me most about Cheney's comments this week is that for 8 years he & Bush did absolutely nothing about Afghanistan. IMO, that gives them absolutely no right to be critical about what the President chooses or not chooses to do over there. Cheney is being critical just to be critical.

People speak about the Obama 'conspiracy' to turn us into socialist hippies and apologize to the world. Heck, Fox News runs stories daily on that fact.

But what about the fact that the Ex-CEO of Halliburton received $32 million dollars of money after being accepted for the VP Position. Then, after that, gave no-bid contracts to the same company he just left, intentionally covered up a scandal with one of the largest energy businesses in the country, pressured the CIA into releasing unsound and false information to justify a second war and gave another no-bid contract to his old company. And let's not forget outing a CIA operative, leading to his death and a clear threat to our security, then trying to get the man he used released via presidential pardon, or how he shot a man in the face and had the man apologizing for being shot.

Cheney, due to his unique position and unparralelled connections, is more of a threat to free-thinking people and rational debate than any conservative commentator. I believe he should be locked in a padded cell for his extreme narccicism, egotism and sociopathic pursuit of money.

Why doesn't Obama know "what the hell we are doing" in Afghanistan? He campaigned on Afghanistan being the central front on the war on terror. He told us he had a plan. He told us that his plan was better than Bush and McCain.

Obama is waiting for something to happen in Afghanistan. While he is waiting for polls and others to act. Our military is in a holding pattern. They are in danger. Waiting on him to decide what he wants to do.

After the last 8 years, and what our country's been through, we all owe Dick Cheny the same level of respect and trust to solve our national problems that we give to OJ Simpson.

If the "Dear Leader" had not spent all of the nine months he has been in office trying to ram socialism down out throats, he would have had time to decide what to do in Afghanistan.

The problem is not lack of time, it's the fact that he does not want to see an American victory, but does not want to take the political heat for the defeat his policy will bring.

Most of the posts from the liberals make the 8 years in Afghanistan seem like an eternity. War is hell, plain and simple, and it doesn't end like a video game. We still have troop in Korea 50 years after that conflict ended, and it could ignite any moment now. We still have military forces in Europe and Japan 60 years after WWII, and billions are spent every year supporting those forces. We are now sending drones to prepare for bombing missions into Somalia to fight off the dinky pirates, and that conflict might escalate into a war. There has never been a perfect war without casualties or unexpected losses. Cheney is simple voicing his opinions about the "new quarterback running the offense". It's an American tradition! Let's pray that Obama doesn't continue "dithering" and leave us stuck with a hostage crisis like Carter did with Iran in 1979. History does repeat itself, and Cheney is sounding the alarm because he has the right to be concerned.

Must be nice to be able to criticize others without having to answer the tough questions for yourself (hmm...maybe that is why we didn't see hide nor hair or him until he was securely out of office). I'd love to have Dick Cheney give us the answers to many questions, not the least of which is why, if he feels not acting is so dangerous to our troops, neither he nor G.W. felt any need to increase the troops in Afghanastan despite a standing request by the military to do so since the end of 2007.

7 years of neglecting Afghanastan, plus almost a full year of ignoring the commanders' pleas to increase the ground troop levels...pray Mr. Cheney, tell us how it is that you feel justified in criticizing Obama's action while failing to accept any suggestion of personal responsibility for this mess?

Roland, I thought your boy had made up his mind in March (when he made a great speech) and reiterated it in August (during another great speech) about the 'good war' in Afganistan. Oh-that was just campaign talk. Can you even write a fair column about Obama? You're supposed to be intelligent and educated. Please use it in the future.

Roland is right, plan and simple. Cheney ruined this country with his bad advice and his lack of thought in developing a strategy to deal with the terrorist. Some people have been critical of the President for actually THINKING before acting. I know this a new idea for america after the past 8 years but as the leader of the free world he has more to consider then just his "gut feeling". Thank God Cheney is out of Washington he has set this country back far enough.

Can't you see what Cheney is up to? He is simply trying to cover up the mess he and the previous administration created. Shut up Mr Cheney!

All of this discussion about Afghanistan is ridiculously out of touch with the true reality of the situation.

Any informed and intelligent discussion regarding policy decisions involving Afghanistan, and Iraq, must incorporate an understanding that the original goal of the Bush era war machine was to occupy these two countries in order to surround and then, ultimately, neutralize Iran, and that, much to their dismay, it has not been the "cakewalk" they predicted, and that much if not all of their well layed plans have, with tragic consequences, since unravelled.

The true reason behind why we invaded Afghanistan and Iraq was kept secret ..even though it's plain to see for any who choose to look long and hard at the "Big Picture"!

What the ultimate strategic goal of the Obama era war machine is anyone's guess at this point, but it seems clear to me it remains to be, secretly still, Iran.

The sooner the press and the public realise this all boils down to Iran the better!!

Has anyone ever wondered why no polls were ever taken on Dick Cheney's popularity over the eight years the last administration was in office? We all saw poll numbers on George W. Bush and have seen them on VPs' from other administrations but never on Tricky Dick the second (remember Richard Nixon had rights to the name "Tricky Dick" the first time around). Even George W. Bush was said to consider changing his running mate the second time around. Hmmm.....that alone should speak for itself. However, for those who still are curious, it is probably better not to know the result of a popularity poll if your name happens to be Dick Cheney. As a final note, please remember our current President cares more about getting it right with thoughtful planning then embarking on the bloodletting bloopers disguised as "strategy" by draft deferrment Dick and his cronies in Washington and at Haliburton.

We are trying SOOOOOOOO hard to ignore Bumbama but he just won't go away! Isn't there some photo op on Mars?

Pierre, We were duped into going into Iraq and Afghanistan by the previous administration. Remember "shock and awe"? That was a failed attempt to take Bagdhad with a measly 40,000 troops, the same number they want to send to Afghanistan now. This is NOT Obama's fault. Yes, he needs to do something but he sure doesn't need that idiot Cheney pushing him around. Cheney had his turn and he was a miserable, annoying disappointment.

Chaney and company should go hide in their cave for the rest of their lives. They had their chance and blew it. Now that they are out of office they should fade away and let a real president with real capability to think by himself and make the right decision. GO AWAY DICK....

An hour to moderate? What is your problem?

Let's not call him Mr. Vice President....let's just call him.........Dick.

I fully agree. Giving any kind of response would only legitimize Cheney's deranged statements. IGNORE HIM!

Bush and Cheney should be handed over to the United Nations and
Prosecuted , for Crimes against all Humanity than hung till they
quit shaking . Only then will this trembling of Nations stop.

"The neoconservatives are like the masters of the universe who are desirous of someone else doing their dirty work because they are afraid to put their lives on the lines."

Oh you mean like you! the truth is you like most big mouth pundits, always have a thought from the safety of a pen or a microphone.

shut up coward, until you and and any other loud mouth (Lib or Conserv) picks up an m16, and serve your country in combat. Your just hot air!!!

Putting polutcis aside, I fely safe with Bush/Cheney in the White House. I do not feel safe right now. While our boys and girls are over there fighting a war, we have a President that is not able to make a crucial decison NOW to keep the boys and girls overseas safe. All the while this so-called President he is traveling around the United States attending fundraing events as pay back to his buddy politician. Mr Cheney is 100% correct in everything he said. Get Obama the hell out of office and put someone in office that can make a executive decison that will keep our fighting men and woamn safe. Obama is a fool.

Dick Cheney has been consistently wrong about every issue facing the American people since he entered public life, starting with his early votes against the very important and worthwhile Head Start program. He is a radical reactionary without intellectual integrity, and yes, his intellectual capacity is meager. He is without a doubt one of the worst players in recent American history.

Can any of the Cheney supporters inform us as to why he did all that he could to avoid going to Vietnam while so many less fortunate young men went off to die.

As an old fart who can't be forced to fight he's now all for fighting, but as a young man he avoided the one way train to 'Nam AKA The US Army and The US Marines. As a someone who served in the first Persian Gulf conflict, Cheney makes me sick to my stomach.

Hit the submit button much to fast....with spell check this time:

Putting politics aside, I felt safe with Bush/Cheney in the White House. I do not feel safe right now. While our boys and girls are over there fighting a war, we have a President that is not able to make a crucial decision NOW to keep the boys and girls overseas safe. All the while this so-called President he is traveling around the United States attending fundraising events as pay back to his buddy politician. Mr. Cheney is 100% correct in everything he said. Get Obama the hell out of office and put someone in office that can make an executive decision that will keep our fighting men and woman safe. Obama is a fool.

Martin and Obama palying liberal politivs with the lives of our troops. Obama, quit throwing your little temper tantrums with the people and news agencies who don't kiss your behind and make a decision to support our troops. Obama is like Jimmy Carter, a lot of hype and no action

Roland: Amen

That pork chop "Dick" Cheney just needs to shut his damn mouth!!! He & his moron idiot former boss started the damn war in Afghanistan and left it For Obama to clean up.

I just love reading comments from all of these mental giants who after the fact just know it all. Try tossing out a suggestion once in a while instead of just judging after the fact.

Peggy-your posting here is a perfect example of why we are in the mess we are in, here in the former USA. Your grammar is that of a nine year old at best. The fact that people with the level of intellect you exhibit are allowed to vote is what is wrong with this country.

If you can't read and write English, you should be excluded from voting. Because, if you only get your news from CNN, MSNBC, PBS, then you are not getting the truth. You are getting the world through BLUE glasses, and that doesn't inform you of anything that can remotely be construed as objective.

There hasn't been objective reporting on CNN ever. They skewed everything about the Bush administration. They candy-coated everything about the Clinton administration, and now they merely echo the will of the Obama regime. That's right, I said regime. They are not an elected Presidential administration. They have no business in office. They are not even eligible to be there. Furthermore, they are for the most part communists. They have no idea what fiscal responsibility is. They have no idea what a real foreign policy is(e.g., Russia turned on them, Iran turned on them, and the NK's have been test firing missiles since the day they took office....oh and lets not forget Hillary's schoolyard tet-a-tet with NK).....
So, when all of you liberals feel like badmouthing Cheney or Bush, at least during their eight years in office they kept a few campaign promises. We now have a Prez who has never told the truth in his life, who hasn't kept a single promise, and now has a $1.5M paperweight on his desk, that he not only didn't earn, but will never deserve.
Please Peggy, and the rest of you Democrats who are bad-mouthing Cheney and W, your guy has been in office only 9 or so months, and has insulted every ally we have/used to have, has allowed the NK's to run roughshod over their foreign policy, have allowed the Russians to push them around, and are actively seeking the destruction of Israel!
Get a clue will you please? And for goodness sake, take a look at the economy! It has gotten exponentially worse every second these amateurs have been in office!
Laughing too hard to go on-really I am!

George W. and Tricky Dick, make the real Tricky Dick look like a choir boy. People that make Richard Nixon look good, need to be put under the jail, not in it. Dick, do your preaching to Halliburton. As for the rest of us, if we wanted to listen to mass murderers, we'd give you and George W., a call.

Typical liberal hate and misinformation from wealthy Mr. Martin.

As former Vice President Cheney said, President Obama is not listening to the advice of his military advisors, i.e. McChrystal. These decisions are not Obama's to make. He is not a war strategist. And while he waits to make up his mind, i.e. delays to avoid making an unpopular decision among liberals during his healthcare reform camaign he is already taking a beating with, our troops will suffer because they don't have the proper support they need. You can try to make this about Cheney, but the fact is it is about Obama not listening to the people he put in charge of making those decisions. Did he not think they were qualified when he did so? Or does our fate in the Afghanistan war take a backseat to his liberal agenda?

Just watch the low souled blood sucker wannabe. Like a very simple forcasting comic book. The body language illustrates very clearly that is such a racist bigot and a massive arrogant coward. So arrogant that he believes he can hoodwink the creator and bluff away all the despicable actions as the held the american citizens hostage to the sad bully boy actions.. Karma is coming blood sucker wannabe. If you use its name you give credence the most dastardly and demonic characters we have ever seen on the american political stage. To say it will go down gross infamy is a major understatement. The lord will teach it a lesson, may it come back as a blind and three legged ant...Lets all pray.....

It's a shame that Cheney doesn't return to the undisclosed location he hid in for eight years. He's an embarassment to the United States. His daughter, Liz, is just as bad. Both should keep quiet and let President Obama do the job he was elected to do.

I absolutely agree with Roland Martin's comments.

In addition to all of the other flaws with Dick Cheney, one only has to watch the documentary "Taxi to the Dark Side" to see the truly dangerous side of Cheney. If all of the facts in this film are accurate, Cheney is a sociopath who thinks nothing of inflicting torture on people and of flaunting the rule of law when it suits him.

That such a man reached the position of Vice President of the United States is truly alarming. He absolutely was the puppet master behind the Bush White House.

Dick, you had your chance and you messed it up. Now get out of the way and lets move on with a solution to a bad situation. Sending more troops without thinking it through is not the right move.

Plan! Maybe if wait for Barry to come with a [lan more of our men die!
Does people making decisions make you nervous?

Thank you for perfect thoughtful analysis. Who are these 19% who approve of draft dodger, cheeseburger chomping cheney?

You are so right on everything Roland, but I don't think we should ignore what their adminstration did, they should be tried for war crimes and PUNISHED....................

Dick Cheney is such a "straight shooter" on any and all matters (and always responds directly from his hip and in your face with no "dithering.") Just ask Harry Whittington! (And also a proud and distinquished graduate of the NRA sponsored neocon hunting safety course). His advice is always worth its weight in buckshot.........

Why do americans blame everyone except themselves. we voted for the president and the majority of americans supported the war initially. then we go around acting like someone walked all over us because things went ill. one person, or two, or three can not solely create the problems we face right now in this country, this is because we're not a dictatorship. we're a democracy and we should start acting like it again.

I want to thank you Roland Martin for your clear, concise and thoughtful comment about the war in Afghanistan. Many young people today, perhaps those who are 45 years old and younger may not understand what happened during the Vietnam War.

The Vietnam War was disastrous. My oldest brother was an army soldier in that war and when he came back I didn't know who this new person was. Back then, the military had so many names for the mental illnesses that our soldiers developed while being in that war. It was a horrible war.

I was 5 years old when my brother was drafted. I always worried about my brother being away from home for long periods of time and when he did return his personality was not the same.

Dick Cheney needs to hide away in the dark and not utter a word about anything that President Obama does. President Obama has a tremendous amount of MESS that he has to clean up. I give him an A+ just for taking such an incredible job that seemed like no one would be able to muster up any strength just to clean up the horrific mess that he has been given.

Yes, Mr. Cheney you are a big part of that MESS. Mr. Cheney along with former President Bush had completely destroyed close ties with our allies around the world.

However, it appears that many countries are interested in President Obama's take on life, his ability to communicate, his intelligence, his ability to negotiate and not feel like he can go into a country and take control or dictate what another country should be doing.

Please, we have enough trouble in our own country with the thieves on Wall Street and the gangs running this country.

So Dick Cheney, take a seat in the back and be quiet. You have done enough to our country and you need to respect President Obama and allow him to do his job.

How many years does Obama have in military experience? Has he ever served? Don't call Bush and Cheney draft dodgers when Obama and both of the Clintons military experience as a kindergarden student? Who is providing Obama with advice? Joe "I voted for the War" Biden? Where were his guts at that vote?

Roland your commentary makes you look foolish and uninformed. You stoop to name calling and whining. Every time Cheney speaks he make you liberals look foolish. You cannot just "ignore" him because what he says makes complete sense and the American people are taking notice. He is a threat to you and instead debating the issues, you name call like a 5th grader.

Why would Cheney encourage more troops into war .. follow the money .. does Cheney have anything to gain for his salesmanship??

As a historian; US Navy/Nato vet and Tn Army National Guard vet; self-employed female bldg contractor and mother of 3 – Roland, thank you for this article.

5 time Mr. chicken deferment from Nam – what a bunch of poo......!!!

Ignore the big buwly commander in chief. He will leave you alone sooner or later (just avoid the plaw ground for now too)

Ignore Cheney is right. Dick Cheney still doesn't seem to realize his administration has been discredited and he's irrelevant. I wonder why he even commands press attention...perhaps they should do what you recommend for Mr. Obama–IGNORE DICK CHENEY.

So astonishing.....that ANYONE will take a single word of military advice from an individual who ran from Vietnam not once, but five times. The GOP has no shame.

I'm so tired of people who pick party over country, being Republican borders on outright rebellion anymore.

Cheney needs a REALITY CHECK, he had 8 years to put forth some good ideas and FAILED!!! He would do well to close it up and let the current POTUS do what he needs to do, not only to figure out the best way to close out the 2 wars that seem to aid in making our country BANKRUPT but to also undo the current economic mess!!

So if I am to understand this, Michael from Orlando...the Democrats are to blame for EVERYTHING that happened during the Bush years??

We had 60 months of beautiful prosperity but then the Dems made it all "sad" by reporting on Katrina and doubting our reasons for war???

Really????

I wasn't going to make any sort of comment on here, until I read that absolutely RIDICULOUS post!!! President Bush had a foreign crisis on his hands within 3 months of his presidency! Hainan Island incident anyone?? Yeah, you don't remember his superiority complex with the Chinese do you?? No one does!
George W. Bush failed on several policies. You think No Child Left Behind was a great idea? Cut funding for those schools that don't do well on some tests?? They need the MOST funding!

But I suppose this is all the Democrats fault as well. Like you said, we had these years of prosperity (if you call MURDERING innocent civilians of different nations prosperous.) This is what is wrong with our nation today. We have so many people out there that will do anything to defend those that don't deserve it, nor truly cared about your livelihood. Bush and Cheney are liars. They failed on many occasions and it is nobody's fault but there own.

And now that Obama hasn't followed through with EVERY campaign promise already, cramming 4 years of progress into 10 months, we have Republicans and easily-swayed Democrats chomping at the bit to claim Obama a failure as well (just to feel better about the failure of the last administration). If Obama fails, then he fails. But he must fail on his own accord....not MADE to fail. Politicians do fail....and it's up to Michael from Orlando to be man enough to admit when it happens!

Obama should take whatever time he needs to get the decisions right. Cheney is just trying to vindicate his own failed advice from the past, which even Bush had to give up on the last few years. Multiplying our enemies and alienating our friends just never works for America.

I thought it was “Five-Deferment Cheney” because he “had other priorities.” I suspect those killed or wounded in Vietnam all had other priorities themselves. So did I, but was just luckier.

Dick Cheney is so full of himself. That is the same arrogance that got us into this mess. Now all of a sudden he has a plan? Notice G.W. Bush has kept his mouth shut on this subject. He has probably had more time on his hands the last 9 month to figure out he was the puppet and Cheney was pulling the strings. Cheney would try and sell firewood to the devil if it meant he'd profit from it.

I find it amusing that all of you who blame everything wrong with this nation on the administration from the "last 8 years" – Excuse me, as I recall from American Government class, the government is made up of 3 branches – the legislative branch has been in the hands of the democrats since 2006 – I also recall that George W. Bush was RE Elected in 2004 (no hanging Chads there) because after 9 -11 the economy bounced back. George Bush had been in office 9 months when it happened – the previous administration had known about Bin Laden but I don't recall all of you blaming the previou "8 years" for that. You are a bunch of hypocrites -ooh bad evil republicans – Obama is gonna save us all -except he hasn't done much except moan how he has to "mop" up the mess – and allow Pelosi and Reid to hand out pork. Please you wanted the freaking job – man up and stop blaming.

Imagine coming home after a couple of frat buddies used your house to have an all night beer bash wild party.
House is trashed, everything's broken, mess and disaster everywhere. All because they thought they knew what they were doing and thought they could handle it. On the way out they are hung over, laughing, slapping each others rear and say "Well cuz, all yours now, we're outta here"
Now you have to clean up the mess, make peace with your neighbors and bring this once beautiful historical place that was once the envy of the town back to a place everyone could admire and respect.
Well that's what the Bush/Cheney administration did. Now Cheney wants to hold press conferences to criticize our president about how he is handling his job.
The best thing about this at least Bush finally got some sense and decided to keep his mouth shut and keep his ideas to him self.

Folks who should be ignored is Obama himself. Let's do something original here and look at facts. Has he done anything to improve the economy? No. Unemployment? Naw. Got us out of the middle east? Nope. Turned our country into a broke estate? Finally a yes. I just wish that Martin would be a responsible journalist and quit worshiping the commander and thief and start reporting unbias news. Oh wait, hes a CNN contributor. They don't know how to be unbias. Sorry my bad!

Reading these replies only enforces the belief that Liberals have no real plans, other than to try and blame the Bush administration for their failures. They have controlled the House and Senate for almost three years, and the White House for almost a year, but their failures are all due to Bush. I don't think so. It is time to quit making excuses and act in the interest of the country. This vitriol needs to end. The country need to work together instead of polarizing.

Cheney needs to sit down and shut up. When he and George III came into office in '01, Clinton allowed them their turn; whatever opinions he had, he kept to himself – his time on stage had ended. The man's idiocy effectively ruined any chance John McCain (who was far more competent) had of becoming President. If he's so sure he'd do a better job, where was he when the primaries were run in '08 ? He's been a coward his entire life (Vietnam), and was AFRAID to run in 2008 against real men (and women). Now he's all bluster, ready to send our children off to be killed in a war he'd never fight in himself. If he's looking for a dithering coward, he need look no farther than his mirror. If it hasn't already cracked.

Please go quail hunting, Mr. Cheney.. You had your chance and failed miserably and now we all have to pay for it. It's someone's turn now.

Mike in Orlando... in the words of CJ Cregg, "Wow, are you an idiot"...

You manage to skip from 2002, when we "felt safe" to 2005... an somehow manage to not only ignore the fiasco of Iraq that diverted attention from Afganistan but also, magically, lay the blame for everything wrong with the Bush Administration on the bid, bad Democrats...

Do you have a PhD in Revisionist History or just a B.S.?

Maybe, just maybe, our enemies in Pakistan, Afghanistan and elsewhere should keep in mind the words of John Dryden (1631-1700): "Beware the fury of a patient man.":

Those of you that think there is no plan are ignorant to military operations. Our Generals on the ground have no doubt provided a detailed plan. If you think the President does the planning you're even more ignorant. The longer we wait the more of our troops will die.

I have a Son whose currently deployed to Afghanistan and will support our troops long before I support your President!

I agree with Mr. Martin. I believe president Obama deserve a chance to help our country. Cheney, had his chance to better this country. Now it is time for Cheney to sit down and listen. Mr Obama is entitled to his moment as president. So let him be. I can't wait until a woman become our next president. Hopefully Cheney will be in retirement by then.

Tricky Dick!! Hellooooooo shades of Nixon I lovit. For the first time in my life (62years) we hav an ex VP who is guilty, in my opinion, of sedition.

Dick Cheney profits from war, thanks to his interest in Haliburton and their "no-bid" contract subsidiaries. Two questions: Why is it that the biggest hawks are also the ones with the most draft deferments? Why would anyone listen to a former VP who left office with an approval rating in the teens?

Calling Dick Cheney simply "nutty" is almost trivilizing what a really dangerous man he is. I doubt anyone really has to tell the President that what comes out of his mouth is not to be noted, in any way.
The guy pulled so many horrible things while VP I really think he should be tried for treason. Look up what you have to do in order to be eligable for that charge and you will find it applies to that "nut".
Please – this is not about Politics. It is about a man so full of his own self-worth that he used power to betray the ideals and goals of this great country. He should be made to face those crimes against his own countrymen.

I don't think the word 'nutty' applies to Dick Cheney. Master of the Universe applies to Dick Cheney.

Every advice, every de facto decision he made as Vice President was coldly calculated for his own ends. Is it any wonder that the company he presided over, Halliburton, stands as one of the most evil companies our country ever spawned? He wielded the power but did not exercise the responsibility, throwing around nameless, faceless little people like chips on a Poker table in some exclusive, high-stake game.

He should shut up and serve food to the homeless, many he helped put there.

Dear Mr Martin

Thank you for what you do. I'm so happy to have a thoughtful, president in the white house. People who say we should run in guns blazing have seen to many John Wayne movies. My daughter's best friend lost her brother due to the unprepared military invasion of a country, Iraq. Her father and family are very bitter and blame Cheney and his in a hurry bunch for his death. No armor in humvee!
Obama you take as long as necessary to save lives, ours and those of the civilians.
I find some of the comments here veery distasteful and uninformed. We are in this mess because of the Republicans.....

Thank you Mr. Roland Martin. I couldn't say it better myself.

YOU former vice-president Dick Cheney COULD have ran for this Presidential term but YOU DID NOT! You KNEW the American people can't stand you; believes you to be amongst the most greedy and evil in our time and YOU would L.O.S.E. so shut your trap! Such feelings for you have NOT changed in the least just because you've suddenly appeared to come out of hiding after 8 horrendously painful long years! In fact, you look more evil now than you ever have because you don't have Bush's stupidity to offset the devilness of your being! GO AWAY!

EVERYONE should ignore Nosferatu Cheney, "the Nation's sinister buffoon."

Hey, German,Irish American (don't tarnish the good German and Irish American names), Why was Cheney and Bush in Iraq in the first place without NATO (nor UN) agreement? (Notice cowboy Tony Blair doesn't say to much these days.) Seriously, Dick (I am above the law) Cheney has tarnished the relationship of the US with it's closest allies, including Britain.

Wow!!!

"Cheney wants to send more of our men and women into Afghanistan with absolutely no clue as to what the game plan is."

Who, the heck, did we elect to decide what the "game plan" is?

President Obama is responsible for making these decisions. Are you saying that he "has no clue"? Maybe it's time he got one?

Mr. Martin,
I agree with what you had to say and also , it seems that Mr. Chaney is suffering from a stage 4 type of Very Serious Guilty Consience Desease..
Attending the funerals of the dead soldiers could help him ease that burden. He is the ghost that's lost. Afraid to move on. They are called haunters and should be ignored.

Mr Martin, once again you are right on point. Let the President take as much time as he needs to make this decision about more soldiers in Afghanistan. Considering the fact that this is a WAR where people actually DIE, this is nothing to rush into.
As for Cheney – Cheney who? Every time something bad happened during his tenure, he was either hiding in some bunker or he was in some hospital somewhere. If the guy had been there to have hands-on experience with a situation, I would agree that the world should listen to his opinion. As it is, Obama taking Cheney's opinion into consideration is no smarter than taking my opinion into consideration – and yes, I am a nobody.
Cheney really should be indicted for criminal acts during the Iraq War, as well as for that Haliburton thing ...

Wait. Afghanistan might not even have a legitimate government. Their elections were a mess. And we're supposed to knee-jerk send thousands more troops to defend this?

Cheney was smart during his tenure as VP. Better to keep your mouth shut and let people think you're an idiot, than start talking and remove all doubt. Now, we have no doubt.

Mr. Cheney, how much you made with that no BID contract deal of yours huh? Maybe that is the reason why you don't want to stop the war so the contract can just go on and on, then just cash in the tax payers money.....
Why don't you and Bush's family goes to Afganistan with arms and try to defend our flag for a change....instead of pushing Mr Obama of sending more troops over to hell that you started.

Please read your history better. We pulled out of vietnam haveing won every battle. I have a son in the army . While i have not served I have some training and have been a student of the history of wars. For any battle to be succesfull you need an objective, a stradagy and an exit plan for it to work. My son who has done two tours in Iraq would rather go into a place with those pieces of the battle plan in place. See for each of his tours the plan was different and sometimes not clear. Afganastan is a whole different fight in that they are trained troops with better weapons than we have since they get the best while our troops get subpar equipment chosen because the company gives the best kick backs. So we can not just go in because the ground comander says so. He is in charge but not always aware of what is going on. Ask the ground troops who are in the middle of the battle they know better than anyone and they want a well thought out plan. Chaney hasnt a clue how to fight. He just is hungry for power and money and one of the reasons the troops are equiped with subpar weapons.

Dick Cheney gives Vampires a bad name. What's really sad is that his daughter is so afraid of his judgemental personality? That even though she is gay she could not go against her Father in wanting laws to protect the gay population. Cheney, Bush, and Rumsfeld were the axis of evil, and why anyone would listen to anything they have to say is laughable. Cheney needs to shut up, and stay out of Government. He has done enough damage to this Country. Actually, his ilk belongs behind bars. He certainly got plenty of deferrments that kept his rear end out of the Military, and he has the audacity to call someone a coward? Also very laughable. How does he sleep at night?

I guess it's easy if you don't have a conscience. His hands will always be bloody!

It always amazes me that people often rag former VP Cheney about his deferments. These people never add that the current VP, Mr. Biden, was given five (5) school deferments, as well.

If you're making a point, Mr. Martin, at least be fair. It reminds me of the state run media!

I say this as a combat infantry veteran. Dick Cheney should be black listed from the air waves and print. When ever has anyone in such a position of power proven themselves to be such an idiot? The fact that he can paint his bloodlust in seemingly coherent speech should be ignored. This man has done more damage to America than many.
Neocons – the cowardly lot of them – need to leave this country as the true traitors that they are. Pursuit of a personal agenda at the expense of the country's sons and daughters is treason, have no doubt.

Mr. Martin is absolutely correct. President Obama should not listen to any advice offered by dick cheney. The former VP was wrong about so many things - far too many to list here, but well catalogued in the historical documents - that doing the opposite of anything he says would be a more rational approach.

Congressman Grayson (D, FL) was right to call cheney a vampire . . . though doing so is an insult to all but the least repentant vampires.

Typical. Attack the messenger instead of dealing w/ the issue of Obama playing basketball, Olympics, etc. while our troops need the help. Obama is dithering. He does not have a clue. Torn between politics and the right thing to do...what a dope.

If the president respected Mr. Cheeny's position on the issues of Afganistan, he probably would consult him. He's apparently that kind of man. I think, for once, Mr. Bush has the right idea. STAY OUT OF IT! Your time is done.

Martin is right, and so his Helen Thomas in the excerpt from her book posted elsewhere on the cnn website:

Mr. President, the generals work for you, not the other way around. The decision about sending more troops (or maybe even withdrawing the ones we have on the ground already) needs to be made in the Oval Office by the civilian leadership not in the Pentagon by the military.

As for Cheney, he has a right to opinion but Obama needs none of it. Cheney's disastrous, war-mongering advice to GW Bush is a big reason that we are in this mess.

Just ask the freedom fighters now serving in our military, who they would prefer as their commander in chief. I'll guarantee you, it wouldn't be Obama. I hope Cheney continues calling 'em out and voices his opinions.

You have to remember that cheney was a part of the mafia nixon presidency. he was wrong then and he is wrong now. all of nixons people should have been locked away in prision. but deferment dick is still free even after what he and the shrub did to this country.

Once again, Roland Martin has proved that his mouth is not connected to his brain. Dick Cheney, is a very smart man, and we must not totally dismiss everything he says. If we had won the war in Iraq, quickly and with much less people dead....then President Bush and Vice Dick Cheney would have been prased. I for one still respect Dick Cheney, but I do question his timing and some of his statements. We must all not forget the fact that he was Vice President of the Unitied States and he still deserves respect...He still has the freedom of speach!!!!!!!!!

Marting only partially correct.....Cheney still deserves respect and his statements should be considered!!!!!

Mr. Martin is correct. However, we must still consider Mr. Cheney comments and act accordingly.

This article is straight and true. I am a Republican, but nowadays am totally embarrassed to admit to be one. Dick Cheney and all of the neo cons are becoming nothing but blame-throwers, ready to aim at anything the President is doing, good or bad, left or right. That's truly a sign of misguided group who's angry because we're losing. Please do us Republicans a favor, Mr. Cheney and friends, and SHUT UP. You're becoming an embarrassment to us, to our religions and beliefs, to America, and to yourself.

I agree with everything you had to say about Cheney. It was the previous adminstration that MUST accept FULL responsibility for the current state of the union. That being said we have troops in harms way and I believe that yhey must be pulled out or supported.I am not sure about the General assessment of the situation. Officers at his level don't fight they send enlisted and young officers into the frey. It is Obamas call and he needs to make it soon.

Wow. the Bamstar has been President for over 9 months and he still has yet to formulate a "strategy"??

Now, Mr Martin, you are willing to give your "messiah" another "two months, six months, or even a year figuring" out a strategy?

And you have the gall to call Cheney "dumb" and "clueless"??

Charles Pace, the second person commenting, has a good point. Roland has an equal and different point. While Mr. Cheney believes only the strong survive through warfare, he disregards peacekeepers or people who make peace as having validity. His far-right conservative perspective means that our nation-state is to be preserved at all costs, and individual soldiers have very little real value. While human life is still significant in his world view, it's always secondary to showing strong military strength.

Hasn't Cheney's heart given up, yet? Soon, maybe!

Look, Obama promised to win that war during his campaign and brutally chastised Bush andsCheney for not doing so and diverting resources to Iraq. Obama's word isn't worth anything is the issue here. Heis simply an inveterate liar.

Someone get him off our shores, Spain is looking for him for his warcrimes.

I'd like to take Mr. Cheney "hunting".

I didn't get "deferments".

I know which one of us would come back!

Those who think VP Dick Cheney gave advice that was not in the best interest of the country should not assume it was because he lacked
insight or information.

His interest in Halliburton or KBR(Brown-Root) extracting billions of
tax dollars from providing over-priced support services for wars in Iraq and Afghanistan makes perfect sense to him and to his privileged friends. And he continues to use patriotic imagery to sell war support
services.

He should not chide President Obama for cowardice but is more than entitled to judge his relative lack of avarice/guile. Perhaps Obama's "impairment" is not naivete. It's having a moral compass.

As an Iraq Veteran (2004)...I'd like to thank Cheney, Rumsfeld, Bush for their foresight and extensive planning to send me and my military brothers and sisters into Iraq with "thin-skinned" Hummers. Their extensive planning and lack of "dithering" (Cheney word) caused us troops to add plywood and sandbags as "armor" to keep us from getting hit with bullets, RPG's, and road-side bombs (155 mm artillery shells).

Result: The plywood splintered thus causing even more shrapnel. Thanks for listening to General Shinseki whom you and Rumsfeld had fired for telling you that it would be suicide to go to war with such equipment.

I lost my team medic due to their lack of "dithering" from a road-side bomb that if he had been in an armored Humvee and not in a "plywood coffin on wheels" he would be alive right now.

Cheney, you are a COWARD! You took 5 deferments when your country needed you to fight "communism" during Vietnam. You will never live that down. Obama, send troops to releive the embattled troops already on the ground but take your time in creating a proper plan for withdrawal...and LISTEN to your COMMANDERS!!!!

Cheney and Rumsfeld would just fire the ones who caused opposition to their master plan.

Isn't Cheney's pace-maker battery due to expire soon??

Cheney is such a wimp that he is unable to maintain a proper hold on a shotgun. He shot a man in the face with bird shot!!!!!!!! I mean how bad can it get when you act like such a tough guy yet you have briddle shoulders and no grip. You sir, should just stay home and drink your "Ensure" and ensure that your pace-maker battery is a duracell.

The first step in the Army's 'Decision Making Model' is UNDERSTAND THE PROBLEM/SITUATON. Every trained Soldier understands that imperative. GEM M understands that. As a retired LTC myself, I applaud the President's decision to analyze and prepare. Every Operation Order begins with the SITUATION and clearly states the commander's intent. Without a firm understanding of enemy array, logistics, and military/civilian conditions, subordinate commanders wouldn't have a 'clue' as to WTF is going on. If the socio-political conditions of the Afghan government, populace, and warring factions can't support a successful operation (and I don't see how they do), then we're as doomed to defeat as were the Russians. The Russian military had 100-plus Divisions, the freedom to kill civilians at will, and many years to do so. Afghans broke the USSR military's backs. We made the Taliban successful and in power as they fought the USSR; we equipped and funded them. Now we reap what we sowed. Although Iraq and Afghanistan are similar to our situation in Vietnam, conditions differ wildly and new lesson are in place. These people aren't like the Vietnamese: they targeted us with bombs strapped to cars, people and babies; these people target themselves... and then us. In Iraq today they killed over 100 of their own. We didn't have a good plan in Vietnam, and we haven't had one over the last eight years. Mr President: give the military the needed resources, but don't just throw away money and blood: do your best analysis and make the best decision!!! As an old warhorse, I volunteered for recall from retirement, but if recalled, I would want to know there is a sensible plan in effect. DO IT!

Dick Cheney was our nation's most powerful Vice President and his poor advice led directly to the US involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan and the problems we currently face. I am still waiting for the WMDs to be uncovered in Iraq. The Bush/Cheney administration ignored the strategy of our commanding generals of the time regarding troop levels needed to complete its task. Remember–it was many years after our entry into Iraq that the "surge strategy" was implemented. History has shown that nation building in Afghanistan will not be successful. Our primary task should be to go after and destroy Al-Queda and not to waste our time and financial resources and the lives of our men and women in uniform building a country that frankly will not enter the 20th century for at least another 50-100 years. President Obama–take the time you need to make the right decision for our country and ignore the comments of Tricky Dick Cheney.

People in America are paying good money to listen to Cheney?
Who are these idiots?

Experience in world affairs and the intrigues of conflict is a precious commodity. Like the cookiness involved in the lives of most great entertainers, their failures and great longevity considered, who would you ignore? A rank rookie or retired veteran of many many endeavers? LIke telling students at Julliard to dismiss MJ because he made sme questionable choices. Liberals would swallow their tongues at the thought! Therefore Roland Martin is a towering figure of genius!!

You are a militery genius right? OF COURSE NOT! You are a liberal reporter who has no family and no clue on what is going on over there. The lack of decision making by our "SO CALLED LEADER" enboldens these militants you fool. While you reporters speak your AntiAmerican filth our men die! Leaders lead not waffle on decisions. We have been in Afganistan for years now if he cant see what is goning on get out of the way because the people that do know are requesting more troops. Look at Iraq now its falling apart just like this heathcare no American wants. I cant wait till this wanna be president is gone! Wake up you liberal commies go to Russia and leave the USA to it traditional values and god.

where was dick cheney 8 years ago you did not hear his voice during the bush administration know he wants to voice his opinion.all i can say is go some where and retire the former president is

dick chenny needs to shut up period !!!!he is all for war ,torture and anything else that is not LEGAL !!!!if he wants to be honest and truthful.... tell us what happened on that hunting trip ??? he is jealous because other countries look at us in a different light now... obama asks ?'s first and talks to leaders of other contries and sits down and treats them like human beings.. in some places we are even looked at favorablly again,imagine that !!!! so chenny "SHUT UP" !!!!!

Going into Afghanistan was the right thing to do. But did Cheney and co listen to their own generals? No. They sent too few in because they were already looking to Iraq and preparing for that! What? Our country was viciously, cowardly attacked and we knew what country harbored and encouraged the persons who planned and financed it. Yet as soon as they could, Cheney and co. took their eyes off the ball and went for Iraq. Because of that we are left with a very very costly (in lives and money) mess (one more complicated than it needed to be).

It is hard to see your beloved party ruined, and so it is very tempting to blind yourself and to blindly believe and ignore the realities. But the truth is, the party has been betrayed, misled. We need to stop listening to "Mr." Cheney and his ilk. I am not saying Obama has all the right answers, but neither does Cheney. Not at all. We need to step back and forget being pawns and sheep for party (mis)leaders and be Americans first.

Charles Pace I think you may be one of the most intelligent people in this forum. As much as I didn't like Cheney's policies and attitude you definitely give more of an intellectual view of the situation and how he feels. The problem with this country is everyone blames our problems on the wars as to why the economy stinks. Actually the reason the economy stinks is because of America ourselves. The wars only exacerbates the situation. It's not any presidents fault that the rich in America gambled with our economy. Whether you like it or not both parties do the bidding of the rich. The Democrats represent the 10 wealthiest districts and the 10 poorest districts in the country. It's not Obama's fault now and it wasn't Bush's fault either, but we are always looking for someone else to blame but ourselves. In some countries eyes we do look weak and indecisive, but other countries we are looked at as being more user friendly on the world stage. I personally think both parties have gone to far to the right and left extremes. Both are jeopardizing our way of life. But the real question is what do we do. What alternative do we have?

We will be dealing with the disaster of the Cheney/Bush Administration for at least another decade. Disavowal of the facts is simply egospeak – foolish and far more revealing than the fearful, diehard proponents of America First could possibly realize.

We are 4% of a very big world – try to get some sort of a realistic perspective on who we are, and who we are not. It may be Cheney's delusion that we can intimidate the "other" 96% of the world’s population – I believe that my, utterly opposite view, is far more realistic.

The President wants to make a rational, reasonable decision on these two needless tragedies (Iraq and Afghanistan) to end the bloodshed, not only of America's finest, but the hundreds of thousands of innocent Iraqi civilians. Send the additional troops two days earlier, rather than consider the consequences of such an action? Stupid is incurable.

For heaven's sake, Roland, how long does it take to figure out what to do?! President Obama has had this issue in his lap since before he was elected, and has "consulted" with military advisors and others "in the know" for some time. General McChrystal has already contributed (again). You make it sound like this is a NEW problem on America's books that requires extended contemplation and pondering. Give your head a shake, man. Nobody wants the President to make a "rush" decision, certainly for the welfare of American troops fighting in Afghanistan. It boils down to making a basic and fundamental call, and sticking to it. Now! Make no mistake; there's a substantial cost to delaying. (Yes, Cheney is an annoying dog that needs to be put out in the backyard. He's so desperate to engineer his own legacy that he can't shut up.)

"Deferral Dick" was wrong when he was Bush's sidekick, and he's wrong now.

He should just shut up, and count his Hallibuton money.

Please just remember that we Americans by a MAJORITY rejected the status quo of the Republicans. Whatever they say is probably the exact opposite of what the American people want you to do. Serve Americans first, our so called foreign friends next. I am so glad this commentator had the good sense to just call it like it is with Cheney. IGNORE HIM FOREVER! Unless you want to be waving in the wind everytime Fox news puts him on the air.

Good for YOU! Somebody's got to say it and you have put it eloquently. I lost friends, family members to the Vietnam (so-called 'Peace-Keeping' mission'), and have friends STILL struggling over 'What was it all about??', 35–45 years later! I don't want politicians (past and present) dictating how and when American soldiers will lose their lives, nor dictating what they should be fighting for. These are our American citizens, our 'heroes', our young people, our 'future' voters and all of us (Americans) should have a say about whether or not this is actually a real threat (war) to the US.
Have the Iraqis and the Afghans.."Man-Up" and take responsibility for their own citizens! They have been fighting 'before' we arrived (without any concievable plan of action) and they will be fighting 'after' we leave!

"a Chicago thug like Obama, whose "big" jobs were a lobbyist and voting "present" most of the time in the Illinos & US Senate..."

Ok, what was GWB other than a Texas thug? His only successful business was running a baseball team (which was practically a gift from his daddy's friends)! As governor his main "accomplishment" was rubber-stamping more executions than any gov in any state before.

Gawd, can you imagine if people publicly talked about GWB the way they do about Pres. Obama? Raked over the coals as unpatriotic, non-troop supporting terrorist lovers! You'all should be on your knees thanking Jah that Cheney didn't get the 1st amendment repealed!

let's not forget an additional Cheney position that President Obama should not expose any intelligence estimates or agents to a review. I say "why not?".

Didn't someone associated with Cheney VP office expose Valerie Plume to the press? (libby?)

He is such a deplorable, dishonest man, that Mr. Cheney.

I think Obama is doing the correct thing in Not jumping the Gun! He should and is, seriously thinking this through. We should NOT send more troops anywhere, period! To send more troops would only mean more devastation. How many more American military troops have to die for Bush's war game? The end should be NOW! The American people that truly, truly want real peace, should come together and stand up for this in from of the Capital! War is never an answer, it only leads to more frustrations and hate! We, America, ARE the terrorists and Obama is doing the right and good thing here! We need to change our ways! There are so many ignorant, war mongering, racist people in America and it makes me want to vomit every time I see the hated in the News or on TV. The ONE and ONLY time America should get involved with the politics of other countries, is when there is mass murder going on as was the case with Hitler, Hussein, and some others. Outside of that, we are hated by other countries because the U.S. so vehemently plays the world police in the race as the world's power. We should not be playing this awful game! We are human and have the right to be treated as humans, peacefully, equally with freedom and NOT control by messed up governments and religious sects! We can and should choose to do the right and good thing and that is NOT send troops to Afghanistan or anywhere else! We need to bring our military home! What if war happened here in America? We would need those troops here, not overseas! What if, consider for a moment, we withdrew our troops from all areas that they currently occupy and those governments took control of the situation, I bet even the Taliban and al quida would even end their dirty business. They hate us, they want the U.S out and that's why this fighting continues. Can no one see this? Are you all so blind? Republicans and Military along with NATO and the U.N. all need to step back and back off and let everything simmer down on its own!

President Obama can not win with the Republicans, Conservative talk radio, Limbaugh, Beck and those that
vilify him, e.g. if he wanted to end World Hunger they would find
something won with that. Whatever he does they are going to
victimize him. Let me reiterate this man has only been president
for ten months – not ten years.

Did those that made these racist remarks and carry similar signs realize that in Janunary the First African American was inaugurated -
it was not a dream?

Finally, Did those people forget what George W. Bush inflicted on
this country.

Roland- Good for you! You just said what most of us are thinking about Cheney. We can't just make quick decisions without thoughtful deliberation, unlike what I feel the Bush-Cheney administration did. We are talking about American lives here. The US can't save the world, but we can be a part of the great world countries that are emerging. Haven't we lost enough lives and spent enough money on these "wars". No wonder we are suffering as a nation emotionally and economically. President Obama is a great thinker and likes all the facts before just making these huge decisions. Too bad this wasn't done with the previous administration. Things would certainly be different....and Obama wouldn't be given blame for what was waiting for him when he became president. We are a nation of instant gratification and wanting results yesterday. We are also a great nation and will bounce back, but remember it took this long to get us in this mess, it will take a while to get out of it.

I have done 2 tours in irak and am contemplating getting deployed to Afghanistan. Like all of the other soldiers who put our lives on the line for our country we want to have a clear plan for risking it.

I find it appalling that anyone would disagree with a president taking his time to get things right.
I am a soldier and so I understand what a chain of command is. there is a reason he is called the commander in chief. if he were to defer to us all the time we wouldn't need a president now would we?

Chaney, Bush and Palin are just a train wreck. I wish all three of them would just shut-up and let our leader lead. You betchya.....

When I read some of these comments, I am reminded why I use Word to refine my thoughts through such innovative functions as "spell check," the thesaurus, "grammar check," etc. Why don’t you ignorant Cheney supporters at least TRY to use the Queen’s English? Your choice of verbiage and grammar is so irritating that I cannot get past it, let alone attempt to understand your intolerance. You might also want to catch up on a) history, and b) current events. You cannot be taken any more serious that Dick himself if you cannot express your thoughts…but then again, maybe you ARE expressing your thoughts. Ouch!

rply to charlespace
Cheney's "World view" as you call it, is suspect and deserves a good "ripping". Hard-headed, stubborn republicans such as Cheney refuse to believe that we actually voted then out of office. When he preaches to his republican audiences, he still has that same "I KNOW EVERYTHING" body language, and his "Snide" remarks keep flowing out of his mouth like bullets. But, HE IS OUT! He has nothing to say about anything anymore that counts for one hoot. Nobody cares what he says anymore. That;s why we ran them out of office, because of his attitude and policies – remember?
He's not our President, he's just some political hack. Who cares what he says? If he runs for President it will be the worst defeat in republican history. The country ignores him, the world despises him, yet the press keeps on putting him on TV. I don't want to see him on TV, so I change the channel when he comes on. I don't want to hear him, or see him, or hear about him. I want to completely forget him.

I think we should wonder about Cheney's agenda.
What does he really want.
He should know the book about weakening America.
Who would trust him with your son or daughter?

Thank you Roland Martin and CNN for this discussion,

The Cheney family has been a disaster for this country.

There is every evidence that Dick Cheney's life story has been an endless chain of disasters. This reality was made abundantly clear in Joan Didion's "Cheney: The Fatal Touch," (pages 51-55) in The New York Review of Books, October 5, 2006. Cheney's "fatal touch," it would seem, is still very much with us in his new war with the current administration. Cheney has been very good at losing wars; let's hope he loses this one.

For the record, Lynne Cheney's own touch is no less fatal. Here in Boulder, Colorado, seemingly far removed from Washington, D.C. we have our own challenges—thanks in part to the Cheneys. The University of Colorado–long rocked by endless scandals–has long been run by conservative ACTA allies of Lynne Cheney. (Lynne Cheney is one of the architects of the infamous American Council of Trustees and Alumni, or ACTA). ACTA's unstated goals are, in part, as follows: silence freedom of speech on campus; create corporations of universities; and squash faculty and student rights.

I truly hate to sound negative, but I think it’s fair to say that America has had enough of this fatally flawed family.

Charles Pace, you clearly do not understand Dick Cheney and his "world view." Cheney's agenda is to try and undermine the very real movement towards discrediting with facts all of the criminal undertakings of the former adminstration, which were mostly done at his bidding. He is not capable of understanding analysis, he is too wrapped up in his idealogy of "hate and be hated, kill before asking questions" that he completely fails to understand the severe and devastating consequences of his actions. Do not lecture someone like Martin who, like the INTELLIGENT people in the country, agree that caution is needed and more rash and stupid actions are the last thing we can afford to do. Just pipe down, as Cheney ought, and let those who understand the situation work out how to deal with it.

Well Said!

Mr Cheney is totally wrong, again and as usual. His policies cost us thousands of lives (but made $ billions for his and his friends' pockets) and are 100% responsible for the huge mess we are in in that region. His policies are also responsible for our financial mess because we spent over a trillion $ in his war of choice, his "pet" project. Mr. Cheney always proved totally inept at foreing policy. Too bad Mr. Bush stepped aside (derilection of duty!) and let Cheney be the president. Oh well... That is what the country gor for allowing an unfit person become president through the cheating that took place in Florida in 2000.

Actually, it's the dumbass media that ought to ignore Cheney. I don't want to hear from him or any other Republican. The last administration thoroughly convinced me that the GOP's danger quotient is surpassed only by it's ignorance. Still blows my mind that anyone voted for George W. Bush to become president. The guy's facial expressions alone screamed "don't trust me". Then he started talking! I'm so embarrassed that my country was so ignorant that they couldn't see through that mental midget.

Mr. Pierre: please get a life. Don't blame the Bush admin for the mess we' re in? Who should we blame? Our granndparents? This is like not blaming Hitler for WWII. And, by the way, if Cheney had his way we would be fighting WW3 right now. Then, personally he didn't even want to fight in Vietnam. What a brave person... with the blood of others!

Great commentary.

I would add one point: had the President followed Darth Vader's prescription, he would have surrendered our sole and only leverage over Hamid Karzai. Would this really have been a good idea, Mr. Vader? Irretrievably stuck with escalation in support of an illegitimate Afghan government?

I, too, hope for a prompt, vigorous, and clear decision, but not until after the 7 November Afghan election.

And for the record, I support GEN McChrystal's recommendation, not Mr. Biden's.

We all know it. Cheney was an idiot. The past 8 years if proof enough for me. NEXT!!!!!!!! Now, can we sit back and let Barack Obama run the country. The decision to go put more troops in harms was is a very very big decision. I'd put it on the same level is Health Care. He should take his time, and do what is right for this country and its citizens.

Sounds like talk radio to me, yet the President has no problem with cnn. Double standard and such a weak, ineffective President.

I have to add one more comment.
Cheney's attitude on life is "Shoot now, ask questions later".
Maybe, for once, we should ask the questions FIRST.

I say, take your time Mr President, and ask all the questions you want.

Have you all forgotten the 3000+ innocent civilains killed on 9/11/01 ??
The act of WAR that brought this all on??!!!!

It's amazing that you hear more from Cheney now than when he sat in the VP bed, where ever that was!!!

"Let me be clear: this has nothing to do with defending the President."

Yes, God forbid you actually support the President on something. Wrong or RIght. DOn't get caught by your fellow winguts suporting pur president. You just demonstrated that the Right's hatred of the president has little or nothing to do with anyting other than politics.

You guys still don't get it.

Dick Cheney is useless now, he was useless as a vice president. He, George, and the whole prior staff at the White House should all be in JAIL...........

They are liars, and resposible for the death of 8000+ American and Coalition troops.......... I hope all of them burn in HELL!

It's ironic why many of the people who agree with Cheney's views are the very same people whose sons, daughters, husbands and wives are serving our country and dying. Mr. Cheney "had better things to do" when he actually could have served his counrty in Viet Nam. What does this man know about war. I would venture to say not one individual in his family has ever seen combat and therefore doesn't have a clue what the word sacrifice means.. If he was truly a couragous individual he would have done his duty when called upon instead of "dithering" and acting like a coward. This is a man trying the rewrite history for his own legacy. It's time Mr. Cheney moved on with his life and give the rest of us a break. Any by the way take your daughter with you !

I know most of your readers are die hard loonie lefties.
If Obama would stop engaging with the previous administration things would go better for him. He appears as an excuse making machine for everything he does. All he talks about is what a mess left behind by the prev administration. The reality is that Bush never complained about the mess clintonn left him such as keeping us as sitting targets for terrorists. Obama has no class for this independent.

You need to remember that this is a WAR taking your sweet time has greater consquences. If Obama had enough foresight he would already have had all his plans and taking two months to decide on a pressing issue is not only taking his sweet time but endangering the lives of the people who are counting on the back up we need. Yes you need to be informed about things but you also need to make important decisions quickly.

Well written, and I agree...but would please stop calling it a "game plan?" War is not a game, and applying habitual slang makes your comment sound frivolous. Let's just call it a "plan" so your point gets the serious attention it needs.

Not only should Obama ignore Cheney, EVERYONE should ignore him. He had his 8 years in the White House and look where it got us!!! Maybe if we all ignored him he would shut up and go away!!!

What kind of journalism is this? I guess the media really was for Obama..

Look people it does not matter who is right or wrong , but we need to put more troops in to beef up security for our soldiers and not for the security of that country , are get them all out of the hell hole before we look like the Russians did. In the 80's.

How about factoring in common sense? It's not to be taken lightly increasing or for that fact decreasing troop levels. These are humans that are to be put on harms way, and I think the President needs to take the time he needs to assess the need for troop levels. The idiocy and hypocracy of Cheney knows no bounds, what did they do to concentrate on BinLadin for those 7 plus years? I think any one with an ounce of common sense could smell the stupidity of Cheney's remark 10 miles away!

Where is the Hague when you most need them? Dick Cheney, George Bush and Donald Rumsfeld should be tried for war crimes.

More posturing by Cheney. Could there be a more divisive individual!? The man is pure evil. Ignore him... Why would anyone listen to the man who is responsible for The Nation's current situation???? Thousands dead, tens of thousands wounded... Ours boys. Bush and Cheney used the USA as their own private piggy bank... paying off all their partners in business via war contracts, etc. Why not keep the ball rolling on Obama's dime.
Let Obama go at this with a scalpel and do the prudent thing... Cheney can continue to swing his club and beat his chest on fox news with the rest of the monkeys over there.

It's nice to finally have an intellectual in the driver's seat.

Encourage Cheney to keep talking. All he succeeds in doing is to continue reminding the American public how awful the Bush/Cheney years were.

Why would anybody but the just say no club, (Republicans,Hannity, Limpbugh, Beck, etc.) ever say yes to anything Chaney or is twin Daughter
Lizzie has to say. President Obama said during the campaign, he would listen to his generals on the ground, but unlike Bush, he would make the call, so let the man do his job.

Also, he is right to go after FOX, they've done nothing but attack him personally since he became the front runner, Hannity and crew have not let up, It's funny to here them complaining, now that he fires back at them. If you can't take the heat, stay out the kitchen little boys!!

Why trust a man who (over and over) insisted Saddam had weapons of mass distruction, said we know it for a fact, said it was just a matter of time (to find them), yet nothing was ever found. Say goodbye, Mr Chaney, and return to your bunker at an undisclosed location.

why don't we all ignore this man? he isn't news and he isn't honest and he is apparently trying to provoke an attack on the US so he can claim he was right. creep!

Mr. Martin I do not agree with your viewpoint, but I am glad that I live in the U.S.A. where we are allowed the freedom to vocalize or pen our opinions and thoughts. My hope is that this freedom will not cease to exist within the coming years.

the former president and his gang did everything possible to ruin this country! when they were in office,the bad advice then is still hurting this country every day every where. the government has no feeling off what the people need. all they see is money for themselves.I am poor i guess but i am not stupid! when you open the flood gates at the border its crime coming in.we have to heal ourselves first. then the world. promises are easy to make. No country respects us anymore.

Charles Pace's argument that we ought to be killing millions of innocent people to prove we are strong might have worked equally well for Hitler, but it has no moral basis. Many would argue that killing peoples instills hatred of America into the hearts of the victims and emboldens terrorists.

Mr. Martin, I see your point, however, I don't believe Mr. Obama should be ignoring Cheney's comments. He should be recording Cheney's comments for his upcoming war crimes trial.

Obama needs to take some advice from someone. I think he is making a big mess out of our economy/government.

Remember, Sadam killed more of this own people then Hitler killed.
Sadam was a crazy, vicious dictator.

Bush did take care of that. Ask anyone who lived there?
Obama is spending money that we do not have, putting us in debt for decades to come. I don't think that he has a clue of how to run this country.

In his speeches, he just reads them, Our economy is in shambles, our jobs are all gone. IT's like a deep depression.
He is doing nothing to pull it out.

Now he is trying to get this health control thing passed; americans do not want this. It will add trillions to our debt. Yes! he needs to be taking advice from someone, someone who knows. Try Hucklebee, and some other conservatives. The conservatives seems to have common sense. They know what works.

What I can't understand is Cheney's comments that the Obama administration has damaged U.S. ties with key allies.

Are you kidding me? seriously? is the man that lost in his own world of neoconservatism???

All you have to do is keep up with the last 10 months of world events to see that the Obama administrations has opened up (and garnered) more talks and cooperation with nations that were literally at our throats, than Cheney or Bush could ever come close to claiming. The arrogant "we won't talk unless you do what we say" attitude and approach of the Bush Administration is exactly the type of policies that get us NOWHERE. Peace & security does not come through bullying, it comes through a willingness to cooperate and respect the views and agenda's of every country and nation on this planet by giving the opportunity to talk and determine IF there is a way to solve an issue, ultimately with the goal to find the right balance to it all.

Cheney, get a clue, the old days of "you don't do what we like, then we'll just bomb the crap out of you" doesn't make friends...it makes enemies...the very ones you are sooo afraid of...

I agree that Obama should ignore Cheney. He is basically ignoring everyone and doing a fine job screwing everything up all by himself. He will go down in history as the worst president ever!

Yes, Obama should ignore Cheney. Frankly – everyone should be ignoring Cheney. That should also include the press an public. He has proven that he is far from an expert on these issues. In fact, it was his choices and advice to G.W. Bush that got us into this mess in the first place. They should have stayed in Afghanistan – fully focusing on those who attacked us, and stayed out of Iraq (who was completely contained, not a threat, and had done nothing to us). Torture, domestic wiretapping, rendition, the list goes on and on. Every choice this man made as vice president made America less safe and increased violence (not to mention anti-American sentiment) around the world.

The man has shown he has no understanding at all of foreign relations. Even after all those years of experience – he cannot comprehend the basic fundamentals of foreign policy (or domestic for that matter). He just seems bitter now. He is upset (as many Republicans are) that Obama's choices – in both foreign and domestic issues – have proven to be correct much more often than his and Bush's.

Yes, I agree with Mr. Martin – Obama should ignore Chaney; and so should the main street media (excluding Fox, WSJ, Washington Times, etc). Chaney is mad because he has become irrelevant – after eight years of surrogate presidency. So just ignore him. He is an angry old man who has gone berserk because the country realized that he was mean old rascal. So leave him alone. I do. IGNORE HIM.

Great article! Keep calling him out!

@ Pierre! You have just made one of the dumbest, uninformed comments ever! Go back to FOX or wherever you get spoon fed your opinion, learn to regurgitate some other dumb comments and then come back.

If America does not pull out of these two wars now we will be there for many years to come. I pray that Washington is not trying to find a way to "save face" at the expense of the nation's young men and women.

We are up against a foe we do not understand. As soon as it appears we are making progress they set off another car bomb as has just happened yet again. They are mindless sick people and they will do what they want, when they want and to whom they want as they continue to prove to us.

We are trying our best to help, protect, defend a people who have been around 1000's of years before us, surely they have had the time to learn how to protect themselves by now. America has made a rod for it's own back in trying to be "Mr helpful" to everyone. It will eventually bring us down. We need to be more selective and think before we leap. PLEASE WAKE UP America

Financial bailout? No problem, we don't need to know what we are doing. Just spend $800 billion as fast as possible. But when real people are bleeding and dying, we are supposed to wait and wait and wait. It's been more than 9 months Mr Obama. How many more need to die until you act?

Dick(brainless) Cheney is a fool. His eight years in office is a testament to a man who had no vision for America. What Cheney fails to realize is that government exists to serve the people. Cheney used the government for his personal agenda ie Haliburton contracts,narrow view of world politics and a complete lack of understanding of history. In my lifetime he is the worst government politician I have ever known.m

I agree with you Mr. Rowland. There is no need to rush troops into that country. If you remember, we just did that and all that has done is increase the number dying. We can't have that. I talk to military men about once a week or so and I treat them like rock stars. I get so in awe of them for what they are doing. Please Mr. President, make the best decision. Not the most politically correct or a pressured one. Take your time and do the job we all know you can do!!

Sorry Roland, but you are dead wrong on this.

Cheney is a idiot and is just trying to put pressure on the President....if it was up to me, we would be out of the Middle East and everywhere else and let these countries fight their own battles and just maintain a decent repour with all countries....it is long past due that we go it alone any longer....for what? People flock here, get on our SS system and kill their own flesh and blood if they become "more like us" this is insanity...yet, Americans born and bred here, are homeless or living in poverty....does this make any sense at all?

Obama has used those who ran against him in positions in the current administration. I think the President should create and offer Mr. "Can't Shut Up" Cheny a special position in Afganistan not here in the US. A position that would require Cheny to live among the Afgan people, that way Cheny could comment accurately about the conditions in Afganistan.

To-BRP-I love the way Bush-Cheney planned their wars. Oh by the way ,where are those weapons of mass destruction ? Must be under Cheney's bed. Shame on this man who is trying to re-write history to make themselves look good.

I love Dick Cheney. He saved us all. He is my hero. He is my savior. I have pictures of him on my mantel with candles on either side. I light the candles and pray to him that he keeps us safe. Forget Jesus. Our Lord has come in the form of Dick Cheney.

Right on, Roland! What you wrote makes so much sense. It is nice to have a voice of reason. Dick Cheney should go back under a rock and not come out again.

For over 2 years Sen. Obama consistently hammered the Bush administration for it's "failed" policy in Afghan. During that time he had access to intel the situation. As the Dem candidate for President he received top secret briefings on a daily basis. Once elected he and his transition team participated in the daily Presidential briefs. In Jan he became The Man...and quickly ordered a top-to-bottom review of the situation in Afghn. The result was a request for an additional 30,000 troops. Not long after that, the commander who asked for the troops was sacked. Now we have a new commander, a new top-to-bottom review and the same request for troops. And yet, the POTUS says he needs more time to think about it.

The President spent 2 years second-guessing and criticizing the Bush administration. He had 2 months before becoming the CINC and he's had 9 months since then to come up with a strategy. He didn't like what the commander on the ground told him in the Spring so he fired him.

We've lost 886 Americans in Afghn in 8 years – 256 since President Obama became the CINC. President Obama has been in office for 10 of the 97 months of war, or 10.3% of the time yet 28.8% of the deaths have occurred on his watch.

President Obama famously called for a timeline in Iraq to force the Iraqi's to stand up and take responsibility for their future. Now is the time for him to stand up, accept responsibility and make a decision.

The only time we should of listened to Cheney was while he was dodging the Draft for Vietman ,we all should of said "we have better things to do"

He is a war criminal and a war monger making millions on war at the cost of Soldiers lives.

and its ok for Haliburton to gang rape their employees according to 30 Republican Senators who worship king Cheney

Seoulman
Vietnam Era Vet

agree agree agree..with this article. Glad someone finally put it out there. If anyone does not understand what Martin is speaking about that perhaps you should sign up for the military and fight the war in these regions..Afganistain, Pakastan, Iraq..

Roland.... doesn't it make you feel a little sick to see how many of our fellow countrymen have fallen for all the smoke and mirrors? Are this many Americans STILL blind?!? I'm disgusted by it, and now realize that they cannot be fixed.

It makes me want to either get away from them, or get them away from me. I suppose that makes me a bad American. Whatever.

Thank you for writing this!

Mr. Martin,

I agree with 90% of your commentary being an independant, and I vote for Bush and Obama. However, when an appointed general who has seen more death, suffering, and loss then most, asks for troops to win- WTF. We either pull out completely, or fight to win. Look at the 'surge' in Iraq. It worke.

If we are going to stay, send the troops, A half ass plan is not the answer. Good commentary regardless.

Brian

I believe Bush and Cheney deserve no less than what they visited upon Saddam Hussien. They are war criminals by every reasoning, but because of the American war machine no other country is willing to come after them as they did Saddam. I live in a country of hypocrites and Right Wing idiots, who talk simply because they have mouths to speak with. What person in their right mind would not advocate taking time and giving serious thought before committing more lives to be lost upon an undefined goal. Having money should not exempt you from paying the price when you destroy a country, murder its leader, then steal that countries wealth and amass wealth through nefarious contracts. We have observed orchestrated murder of another nations leader, while our own leaders used lies, tricks and fear to get the job done.

Montgomery and Eisenhower had a half hour disagreement about attacking through the Ardennes ,Eisenhower prevailed and attacked to what became the battle of the buldge,the biggest disaster in the second world war ,to the tune of loosing 77,000 lives, What's the hurry Mr. Cheney ? .

The reason Cheney and Rumsfeld believed Iraq had weapons of mass destruction is because they had the receipts!!!

President Obama is the Commander in Chief. He is the one who makes these decisions. Your generals work for you, not the other way around, Mr. Obama. The hawks would do well to remember the lessons Pres. Johnson had to learn by listening to his generals too much when they promised escalation as a way out of vietnam. Obama would do well to remember the lessons of the Brits, followed by the soviets in Afghanistan. The mujahadeen do not care about colonialist borders. Their endgame is a califate extending from Pakistan to Morroco. The solution to that dark vision lies within the people of these countries, not military force. The measure of our success in the middle East will be in supporting security and helping develop infrastructure in those countries to bring them into the 21st century. Security for us is relieving ourselves of our addiction to foreign oil. . . . The appetite for change in America has waned in this economic downturn in exchange for a semblence of stability. We all want to be ships safe in harbor now . . . but thats not what ships are for. . . . . Obama, let's try thoughtfulness. Lord knows bravado as a surrogate for a plan hasn't worked for the last 8 years

Mr. Martin, please take my advice: back away from the word processor. You cannot seriously one hand suggest Obama take up to a year to make a decision, and on the other implicitly skewer the previous administration for the 5,100 soldiers lost. What do you think is going happen while Obama evaluates the situation / campaigns for the 2012 election? All Cheney is requesting is that Obama take the advice of people who have relevant experience, particularly Gen. McChrystal. The election is not going to make any large difference in our Afghan experience in the near future. Obama must either commit more troops, or call it quits. He must DO something, aside from whining about Fox News. Bush was burned in effigy for far less bungling.

In this country we have a civilian head of the military....and for good reason. Left to the warmongering Generals who wouldn't have anything "meaningful" to do if they're not out there spending our money and killing people....including our own young men and women, we would be at war 24/7 year after year after year. The decision is simple....GET OUT....GET OUT...GET OUT! No conferring necessary. It cracks me up when I read posts from people who say if the terrorists get back in Afghanistan they can plot to attack us again. Hello? Is anybody home? News Flash! They can plan to attack us from ANYWHERE...New Jersey.......Maine.....Utah.....Lower Slobovia....ANYWHERE...Get it?

"The reality is that Bush never complained about the mess clintonn left him such as keeping us as sitting targets for terrorists. Obama has no class for this independent."

Yah, that budget surplus Clinton left Bush was a real inconvenience. So were the Intelligence reports that warned Bush about 911 that he ignored.

It is a really good thing Bush keeps his mouth shut isn't it?

I really wonder if the people who are supporting Mr. Cheney's recent comments have a son, daughter, wife or husband in these two terrible wars? If there are any, I rather doubt that there are many who are supportiveof Cheney.
I am rather surprised that they are a few comments here that make a point to immediately send more troops because General McChrystal said so. I remember reading that early in the Civil War General McClellan kept asking for many more troops during the Peninsula Campaign, even though he already outnumbered Lee's forces 3 to 1. We all know that the campaign turned out to be a disaster.
It's clear that we had some bad generalship back then. In fact, during all of our wars we've had plenty of bad military leaders, but these days it seems a sin to question any of them. We must have civilian leadership that considers ALL courses of action, not just "shoot em up, bang-bang" strategies. This is what our President is trying to do: decide on the most effective OVERALL strategy. Why are there some that critcize critical thinking? Part of the "dumming-down" of America I guess.

Bad advise...this incompetent administration should listen to some grown up.

thank youf for this article Mr. Martin
it reinforces the reasons why I don't listen to nutty, angry, hate pushing, ignorant journalists...

Dick Cheney is a wingnut, no doubt. War criminal? Probably not. In order for there to be war criminals, there has to be a victory (so the victors can put the vanquished on trial). Iraq is a no-win war – everybody loses except the military contractors.

Pay no attention to Cheney, he is just as has been, a poor one at that, trying to hold on to the lime light. He did a miserable job in the administration so why should anyone listen to the draft dogger.

Bravo, well said Roland. I think everyone should just ignor cheney's comments. The man is a power hungry war mongrul. He could care less about the brave women and men serving our Great County. He is just trying to save face for the history books. To late cheney, history will see you for the fool you were and are. Stay home and garden.

Obama is ignorant of what is happening in Afghanistan he should listen to Dick Cheney who knows more than him. Obama is a coward and he should resign or be impeached.

I think Roland S. Martin is more ignorant than Pres. Obama. He is what we call "Obama's LAPDOG"

Originally, Obama's campaign had a plan about bringing American troops home. However, keeping them there does not seem to be supportive enough for anyone. We have to remember that no matter what advice we recieve, all options are clear. Obama is only doing his job, just like every other politician and military tactician is.

Cheney never served a day in uniform – he is a draft dodger who finds it easy to send others children to war. The mess that he made in Iraq and Afghanistan is criminal and he should be held accountable with the rest of the cronies.

He belongs in GITMO in an orange jumpsuit – along with all the other neocons of his ilk.

1.20.13 – Obama's Last Day

We have made a terrible mistake!

After more than 4000 dead US soldiers, ten thousands of civilian victims in Iraq and Afghanistan, and a budget deficit in the hundreds of billions, Cheney seems to come out of his hole every couple of month with a bitter comment and useless advice – a habit similar to Osama bin Laden who is still free and recruting new suicide bombers.

The longer the occupation in Iraq and the war in Afghanistan goes on, the more victims, the more hatred agains the Western world, the more suicide bombers, the more poppy will be grown in Afghanistan for the young generation in the US and Europe.

A solution is not easy to find, but the present path seems definitely to go towards a dead end.

Nobody should listen to a fool. Did we not send a message to Mr. Cheney in November 2008? GOODBYE and GOOD RIDDANCE!

I'd like to make a couple of points here. Didn't the previous administration tell us this "war" would only take a few months to wrap up? Didn't they also proclaim we would be meet as "liberators not conquerors”. Weren’t we regaled with the “mission accomplished” banner on the carrier? What about the speech on the deck of the carrier proclaiming “major combat” had concluded?
Odd isn’t it, their “plan” didn’t seem to work all that well, and now they offer “advice” to the current administration on the manner they should proceeded with the war.
Thank you Mr Martin.

Reading the commentary and all of your comments from the people...no wonder this country is totally screwed up. All of you people, including you Roland need to take a long look in the mirror and stop pointing fingers at past and current administrations. How about focusing your energy on writing your congresspeople and senators that you all voted for, and ask them to make the changes necessary or vote them the hell out of office. Look at how and where the decisions are made from the top down. If you think the current administration is any better at leading this country than the past good luck. I for one am so tired of listening to the current democrats who focus on the past and have little input on how to fix things for the future. I am also fed up with the republican party of fools that have no plan either. And thanks Dems for voting/shoving down the peoples throats, for the single largest debt our country now has and all of our children children now have the burden to pay for. And it does not even work....Don't you love being owned by China? You all must be so needy that you need the government to run every aspect of your lives. I for one am so sick of the lack of leadership in every political office currently held by our government. Thank God I am going to retire soon, liquidate all of my assetts that I worked my butt for, and rid myself and my family of living with a bunch of whinning, dependent idiots that must have the government do everything for you. There is a better way of living and currently it is not here in the good ole USA. SEE Ya!

You are absolutely correct Martin. Why would anyone care about what Cheney says. He bought nothing but destruction to this country. He is not a worthy American. His extream ideology has done a lot of harm to this country. I do not believe for a moment that, Obama need to even listen to this man. He is like poison ivy. Obama needs to stay away and focus on his path to restore what Cheney has destroyed. Cheney will get punishement from the nature for what he did. For now just ignore that old crazy man.

Fully agree with everything you wrote - if the Neo-Cons are so worried about rushing into fight the war in Afghanistan then let them grab a weapon and take the place of one of our soldiers – having that choice I wonder if they would "dither" about the decision

Dick Cheney should watch less television...

The mistake that was made regarding both Iraq and Afghanistan is that a group of Westerners put their heads together and tried to come up with "reasonable and logical" courses of action. Problem is – they were (and are) dealing with a mindset that is NOT Western. If that fact is not taken into account, we will fail in Afghanistan as surely as the USSR failed; and Iraq is by no means a done deal, either!

President Obama doesn’t seem to care what over 50 percent of the US population thinks... so why would his attitude towards Dick Cheney be any different? My guess is in 3 years and 3 months nobody will be listening to what Obama says either.

Nice, I like the move of using Cheney to divert attention from the fact that Obama is not listening to the one man who was put in charge of determining a winning strategy in Afghanistan, General McChrystal. Very crafty Martin...

Mr Martin,
It seems to me that you have it right. I agree completely that the President should take time in Afganistan, ere we blunder as in Iraq.

Thanks for all that you do.
TM

Right on Roland!! For Cheney to make that kind of statement shows how out of touch he and the previous administration was. They ignored the war effort in Afghanistan to have our troops killed in Iraq where the end result will be a civil war when we leave. Their version of "progress" is criminal.

America should get ready for some very bad news from Afghanistan. The more troops we send, the more body bags will come home. We are in a war we cannot win and a war that does not have the support of the Afghans or the Americans. We lost any advantage we might have had 8 years ago when "W" and his buddies decided to go into Iraq. The true suffering will be experienced by the families here who will have to bury loved ones killed in Afghanistan who died for no valid reason, just like Iraq.

I only have one thing to say: ♥

Mr. Martin I look forward to your articles. Keep-up the good work.

I think it's funny how the right in this country would claim that it was unpatriotic to criticize the President while at war, but as soon as they lose power it would be unpatriotic to not criticize the President. They want to criticize him for a war they started and mismanaged is extremely hypocritical. Thanks for calling them-out about it.

Some people write for the pleasure of writing. But when we read an opinion base on facts and good analyses. We need to elevate the debate to a constructive and intellectual approach. Live the negativity to the ignorants. As intellectual you are a manipulator of concepts. "There is no good opinion or bad opinion. All depend on the angle our eyes can see the reflex of the dot."

Cheney's blathering is nothing more than setting the stage. He fears a Justice Department investigation (and rightfully so). I am certain that part of his very vocal criticism is the hope to be able to frame the impending investigation as a "purely political" attempt to silence his "patriotic" dissent.

The notion of an Obama Presidency extending for four years after 2012 terrifies him. Though Obama may be taking it slow and trying his best not to alienate, I doubt he will have such qualms when he is a lame duck President. Cheney is looking ahead...and rightfully so: everyone knows he is as guilty as sin.

Who is Dick Chenney?

Absolutely brilliant summary of the better part of a decade of fighting.

For all of you that think the dark emperor is right what is there to win?What have we won in Iraqi? Oh ya oil and gas more Cheney business to enrich. I got it now.....

I would agree our policies are flawed. However we have troops on the grown now "Calling for backup". It is the same thing as if you called 911 and the operator put you on hold while they all sit around drinking coffee and having a meeting to discuss what to do to help you.

Dick Chaney architect of disaster. Listen carefully to what he says, then do exactly the opposite and we will be just fine.

Hey Dick, been hunting lately?

I would love to ask Mr. Cheney about all of the dithering his administration did in regards to Afghanistan.

As other commentators have said, Iraq took all of our resources and energy, Iraq was the focus of our efforts.

But even before Iraq, in December of 2001, Cheney and Bush proved that they didn't take Afghanistan -or Bin Laden- seriously. At the Battle of Tora Bora, we may have had the chance to capture or kill Bin Laden; instead we left that fight in the hands of local tribal militias and lost whatever chances we had then.

So every time I hear Dick Cheney grumbling about national security and criticizing Obama, I can't help but wonder why Bush & Cheney didn't take Afghanistan seriously in December of 2001. Maybe one of these days a journalist will have enough courage to ask Cheney that to his face.

The fact that the media publishes or pays attention to anything Cheney says, as if it was important or newsworthy, is baffeling. What's the point? Aggitation for those who recognized him for what he is by his actions and booted him out of office? Massage for those who supported, and still support, such a dark personality? What is the good that can be gained from shining a light on this person, other than a warning that his type lurks in the Republican party and independents must be VERY careful who they support and why?

This real conservative believes that Cheney should be tried as a war criminal.

Neo-cons are always eager to spill the blood of working class Americans. Especially if they are getting richer in the process.

A huge percentage of comments blast the previous administration. OK, that being said and done, lets do something about it. Whining about how we got there does nothing to aleviate our present problem. Whine later. Do something. Now. Pull out or reenforce. Sitting on your hands waiting for the November elections, is politics over Country. Obama appointed McCrystal. As what? Don't you think Obama wanted to know what the best course for the US over there? Obama had McCrystal sit on his hands for over 70 days, and then saw him for 20 minutes. Obama knows what McCrystal is going to tell him, but he doesn't want to hear it. Wait for the election, then we'll talk. In the mean time, Obama should be mobilizing the 40,000+ troops that was asked for. Something like that would take time, but once the elections are over, Obama can stop the mobilization and call everyone back home, or send them. Just the motion of another surge would have an effect – good or bad, only time will tell. But please, do something.

Who?

He should ignor the Republi-cans~