Joining the Republican chorus on the failed Christmas Day attack on board a flight headed for Detroit, former United States Vice President Dick Cheney on Wednesday alleged that President Barack Obama is not tough against terror and 'is trying to pretend we are not at war'.
"As I have watched the events of the last few days, it is clear once again that President Obama is trying to pretend we are not at war," Cheney said in his statement to Politico, a US news daily known for its coverage of US Congress and the government.
"He seems to think if he has a low-key response to an attempt to blow up an airliner and kill hundreds of people, we won't be at war. He seems to think if he gives terrorists the rights of Americans, lets them lawyer up and reads them their Miranda rights, we won't be at war," Cheney said as he went on to blast Obama for his policies against terrorism.
"He seems to think if we bring the mastermind of 9/11 to New York, give him a lawyer and trial in civilian court, we won't be at war," he said.
"He seems to think if he gets rid of the words, 'war on terror,' we wont be at war," he said, adding, "We are at war and when President Obama pretends we aren't, it makes us less safe."
"Why doesn't he want to admit we're at war? It doesn't fit with the view of the world he brought with him to the Oval Office," Cheney questioned.
Cheney alleged that Obama seems to think if he closes Guantanamo and releases the hard-core Al Qaeda trained terrorists still there, "we won't be at war".
"It does not fit with what seems to be the goal of his presidency -- social transformation, the restructuring of American society. President Obama's first object and his highest responsibility must be to defend us against an enemy that knows we are at war," Cheney said.
Ever since the failed Christmas bombing attempt by an Al Qaeda operative, the Republicans who were defeated in a Obama-wave that swept the nation in 2008 have been very critical of him.
The Republicans have charged Obama of being soft in his policies against terrorism. The White House has refuted those charges.
