Dick Cheney sets Rahm Emanuel straight

In an interview with the Center for Security Policy, Dick Cheney today contradicted a claim by White House chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel that the Obama administration had to start from scratch in developing a strategy for Afghanistan because the Bush Administration had left the war adrift without direction and without asking meaningful questions. On "State of the Union" on CNN Sunday, Emanuel told chief national correspondent (impressive title), John King the following:

"The president is asking the questions that have never been asked on the civilian side, the political side, the military side and the strategic side," White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel told CNN's "State of the Union."

And then this:

"It's clear that basically we had a war for eight years that was going on, that's adrift, that we're beginning at scratch, just at the starting point ... and that there's not a security force, an army, and the types of services that are important for the Afghans to become a true partner," Emanuel said.

Boo hoo.  War is hell, Rahm, or didn't you know? Dick Cheney, in his trademark deliberate and measured form smacked him down.  From Fox News:

Former Vice President Dick Cheney said Wednesday that the Bush administration had developed a new strategy on the war in Afghanistan before leaving office -- a strategy that he said "bears a striking resemblance" to the one announced by President Obama in March.

In a speech to the Center for Security Policy, Cheney said the Bush administration handed Obama's transition team a policy review of the Afghan war conducted last fall to meet the new challenges posed by the Taliban.

"They asked us not to announce our findings publicly, and we agreed, giving them the benefit of our work and the benefit of the doubt," Cheney said in prepared remarks.

Cheney's comments contradicted a claim by White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel that the Obama administration had to form an Afghan war strategy from scratch because the Bush administration hadn't asked any key questions about the war and left it "adrift."

What on God's earth does Rahm Emanuel know about foreign policy and our military engagement in Afghanistan?  He's a former ballet dancer (I submit, a more honorable profession) and investment banker with Wasserstein Perella where in 2 1/2 years he made $16.2 milllion.  Don't misunderstand me.  I love for people to get rich by the sweat, toil and tears of their own efforts. But what did he actually do for that money?  Oh, yeah, and he also sent a dead stinky fish to a Chicago pollster who he believed cost his client an election (better than a horse head, I suppose).   But I repeat myself....what does Emanuel know about Afghanistan?  And what possible intelligence value could he offer to General Stanley McChrystal?

If I had to make a choice to risk my life, my fortune and my sacred honor on the word of Dick Cheney or Rahm Emanuel, I'd choose Vice President Cheney, without hesitation.  He's the real deal.  I hope and pray my children will live to see his like again.